On Giving from the Prophet by Khalil Gibran You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow?
And tomorrow,
What shall tomorrow bring to the overprudent dog burying bones in the trackless sand as he follows the pilgrims to the holy city?
What is fear of need but need itself?
Is not dread of thirst when your well is full the thirst that is unquenchable?
There are those who give little of the much which they have and they give it for recognition and their hidden desires makes their gifts unwholesome.
And there are those who have little and give it all.
There are the believers in life and the bounty of life and their coffer is never empty.
There are those who give with joy and that joy is their reward.
And there are those who give with pain and that pain is their baptism.
And there are those who give and know not pain in giving.
Nor do they seek joy nor give with mindfulness of virtue.
They give as in yonder valley the myrtle breeze its fragrance into space.
Through the hands of such as these God speaks and from behind their eyes he smiles upon the earth.
It is well to give when asked but it is better to give unasked through understanding.
And to the open handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving.
And is there anything you would withhold?
All you have shall someday be given.
Therefore give now that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors.
You often say I would give but only to the deserving.
The trees in your orchard say not so.
Nor the flocks in your pasture.
They give that they may live.
For to withhold is to perish.
Surely he who is worthy to receive his days and his nights is worthy of all else from you.
And he who has deserved to drink from the ocean of life deserves to fill his cup from your little stream.
And what desert greater shall there be than that which lies in the courage and the confidence nay the charity of receiving.
And who are you that men should rend their bosom and unveil their pride that you may see their worth naked and their pride unbashed?
See first that you yourself deserve to be a giver and an instrument of giving.
For in truth it is life that gives unto life.
While you who deem yourself a giver are but a witness.
And you receivers and you are all receivers.
Assume no weight of gratitude lest you lay a yoke upon yourself and upon him who gives.
Rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings.
To be over mindful of your debt is to doubt the generosity who has the free hearted earth of mother and the god for father.
