For whose benefit …?

By Rhiannonw

Tue, 17 Jan 2023
  • 1260 reads
14 comments
 

Gifting from
kind, good conscience,
discreet;
or gifts of deceit,
pretentious;
gifting from plenty,
gifting from poverty,
gifting for praise
displays
made for publicity,
to impress;
gifts anonymous
made privately
to ease distress;
gifts parsimonious,
gifts generous:

a quiet, cheerful giver
not looking for thanks and honour
is truly blest
far more than the receiver,
or the ostentatious giver.

[IP: The Donation]

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Comments

Submitted by airyfairy on

You're so right, Rhiannon. The spirit of the gift is certainly as important as the amount.

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, yes, and the temptation to make sure the good deed is noticed! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by marandina on

"a quiet, cheerful giver
not looking for thanks and honour
is truly blest
far more than the receiver,
or the ostentatious giver."

 

Those last few lines capture the moral for me. I find it easier to give than recieve but I guess it's the intention for either/both that sets aside someone who is truly selfless.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks. Yes, accepting gifts with good grace can be hard for some, too, and needs humility, and obviously easier if the giving isn't being done ostentaiously, and is obviously kind. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

An apt poem for the I P.

These lines did get me thinking:-

gifts anonymous

made privately

to ease distress, 

 

It does depend on the situation. There's nothing worse that finding out you've given money to someone homeless on the streets, only to discover they've spent the money on drugs. This happened to me, which makes me reluctant to hand out money on the streets. I'd rather buy them a hot cup of soup, coffee or tea.

But you do make some valid points in your poem Rhiannon.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Jenny. Yes, I wasn't thinking of that situation where I fully agree with you. I was thinking of giving through appropriate channels, but not necessarily giving details of who you are, or anyway not expecting it to be reported, published as to who you are and how much you had given. There isn't really anything anonymous about giving to someone on the street, though they don't know your name. And there are some pretending to be homeless too I thinkl Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

This could be a rap Rhiannon :0) I think you are so right, one should not give through a sense of duty or return reward, but to make happy, a gift is a bird set free

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you. Funnily enough I can remember my father-in-law getting quite put out when I mentioned that one has a reward in your heart from doing good kind acts that might be quite sacrificial in time or money. I think he felt that there should be no expectation of blessing from it at all. I think he was confused, the blessing I spoke of was quite private - God's blessing on the heart, not honour from others! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Tom Brown on

Honey dripping of the lips the kisses of an enemy is abundant. Flattery is dangerous.

Nice poem! Keep well Rhiannon! Tom.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Tom. Yes, flattery is another temptation, also getting praise from others for what you do. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by XxMysterioxX on

Your poem made me think of giving in a way I never had before

2 people can give someone in need the same thing, but one can be worth more than the other's because of their intent.

With technoogy evolving the internet into a place where people show off for money, ate thos people who video themselves helping others for real? Or is it only for the veiws?

I really like the poem

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks for commenting. Yes, it's easy to concentrate on looking good before others isn't it, and lots of what is shown on the internet can make others feel low and jealous, and may not be very truthful anyway. Jesus noticed the poor woman giving her tiny amount and knew how sacrificial and genuine it was. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by maisie on

I was always told to give with hands wide open, in other words, it was freely given & not to be taken back.... :)   One of my dearest scottish relations :) 

maisie angel Guess what?  I'm still alive!

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Maisie. I hope you're doing OK! Rhiannon