Humility

There was a rich man in a village who was a great miser. He never gave alms to the poor or to any charity. There was also a poor shoemaker in the same village, who was very generous. He gave something to every beggar coming to his hut and also his little to every charity project and noble cause.

One day the miser died. Nobody mourned or prayed for his soul nor did anyone accompany his coffin buried well outside the village. As the days passed, there was a sudden change in the shoemaker who stopped all his charity too. He said now that he needed all his money. One day, the village priest went to him and asked about this change of heart. The shoemaker said with hesitation and tears, “Sir, many years ago the miser came to me with a huge sum of money and asked me to give it away in charity. He made me promise that I would never reveal this to anyone till he lived. Once a month, he visited me late in the night and gave the money for that month’s charity.” The priest called the villagers and said, “The miser lived by the scriptures keeping his charity secret, wanting nothing for himself.” The entire village went to the cemetery and offered their prayers. The priest pronounced, “When I die, I ask you all to bury me here next to the humble man.” I am reminded of the words of Saint Francis of Assissi, “It is only in the giving that we receive.”

Take Care.

-         -  Inspired by Gurumayi Chidvilasananda’s Book “My Lord loves a Pure Heart).