Why does a person wait before “giving” of himself?

Why can’t he make a loving gesture, or act on his own?

Does he always have to weigh what he gets with what he gives

Before he decides to give?

Is life just one long business deal

Of taking first and giving later,

Giving only as much as one receives,

Never giving more than what one gets?

Are we so lacking in generosity,

Of thought word and deed that we only

Give as good as we get never waiting to see

If we can make the recipient happier than he has made us?

Where is the human kindness within us

To think of giving more of ourselves than is necessary,

Be it in the form of material goods, physical exertion

Or even emotionally, by being loyal, dedicated and loving?

Haven’t we heard the maxims –

If you give, you get back with interest?

Or the one that says – You reap as you Sow.

If so why don’t we follow what we preach?

How many of us have made an extra effort

To make people feel loved and thus happy?

To go that extra mile and accommodate

More than what we can in our limited time.

Why then do we expect the Lord to give

And give and give, getting nothing in return

Except what we so selfishly offer

With ulterior motives, only when in need?

Why wait till then, why not start giving now?

To our family, to our friends, our associates at work

To our loved ones who need us more

And above all to the Lord, who gives so selflessly.