Generosity, squished.
26 Nov 2010 Leave a Comment
in observation Tags: altruism, charity, children, children's generosity, christmas, christmas presents, donations, generosity, gifts, giving, kindness, money for christmas, role models, role models for children, unconditional giving
It was about a month before Christmas, a few years ago. I was sat at the back of a bus on the long seat warmed by the engine beneath. On the seats facing me were a woman and a boy. He looked about eight or nine years old. He called the woman Nan.
They were talking about Christmas.
She said to him “I’m gonna give you money for Christmas this year, I don’t know what to get you. You can get something nice for yourself”.
The boy smiled at this.
The bus rode on for a little way before she asked “What will you buy with the money I give you?”
He replied immediately, “I’m going to give half of the money to charity and then buy myself something with the rest”.
My heart filled with that swelling kind of feeling that you get when you hear or see someone doing or saying something really kind, that makes your eyes fill a little too.
His nan replied “I’m not gonna give you any bloody money if you’re gonna go and bloody give it away”.
My heart sank.
