April 9, 2017 at 12:14 am

Once when I was a teenager, my father and I were standing in line to buy tickets for the circus.

Finally, there was only one other family between us and the ticket counter. This family made a big impression on me.

There were eight children, all probably under the age of 12. The way they were dressed, you could tell they didn’t have a lot of money, but their clothes were neat and clean.

The children were well-behaved, all of them standing in line, two-by-two behind their parents, holding hands. They were excitedly jabbering about the clowns, animals, and all the acts they would be seeing that night. By their excitement you could sense they had never been to the circus before. It would be a highlight of their lives.

The father and mother were at the head of the pack standing proud as could be. The mother was holding her husband’s hand, looking up at him as if to say, “You’re my knight in shining armor.” He was smiling and enjoying seeing his family happy.

The ticket lady asked the man how many tickets he wanted? He proudly responded, “I’d like to buy eight children’s tickets and two adult tickets, so I can take my family to the circus.” The ticket lady stated the price.

The man’s wife let go of his hand, her head dropped, the man’s lip began to quiver. Then he leaned a little closer and asked, “How much did you say?” The ticket lady again stated the price.

The man didn’t have enough money. How was he supposed to turn and tell his eight kids that he didn’t have enough money to take them to the circus?

Seeing what was going on, my dad reached into his pocket, pulled out a $20 bill, and then dropped it on the ground. (We were not wealthy in any sense of the word!) My father bent down, picked up the $20 bill, tapped the man on the shoulder and said, “Excuse me, sir, this fell out of your pocket.”

The man understood what was going on. He wasn’t begging for a handout but certainly appreciated the help in a desperate, heartbreaking and embarrassing situation.

He looked straight into my dad’s eyes, took my dad’s hand in both of his, squeezed tightly onto the $20 bill, and with his lip quivering and a tear streaming down his cheek, he replied; “Thank you, thank you, sir. This really means a lot to me and my family.”

My father and I went back to our car and drove home. The $20 that my dad gave away is what we were going to buy our own tickets with.

Although we didn’t get to see the circus that night, we both felt a joy inside us that was far greater than seeing the circus could ever provide.

*That day I learnt the value to Give.*

*The Giver is bigger than the Receiver.*

*If you want to be large, larger than the life, learn to Give.*

*Only if you Give can you Receive more. The Givers heart becomes the Ocean, in tune with the Almighty – The Source*

*Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get – only with what you are expecting to give – which is everything.*

April 9, 2017 at 11:32 pm

This is inspiring. I always listen to this song by a well known reggae artist, Blessed is the hand that giveth than the one that receiveth. And tgis song has b3en there for the longest time. When you listen to it you will appreciate it very much. Sometimes we may do things for people to see or recognize us but the thing is when you do something out of good will without expecting anything in return, God helps you through your life. We are always told be greatful for the little that you have because there is a likely hood that there is someone somewhere who is longing to have that little thing that you are taking for granted. There is a saying that says travel and see. It sounds funny in english but all it means is travel around and see the suffering that people go through before you can complain about what you have.

April 10, 2017 at 11:19 am

Yes, the giver is always superior to the receiver. One should learn the habit of giving. One need not feel about what we get in return. It has got it’s own place and value in human life. I always teach my children to donate something to the poor and needy if not everything.

Your father has done a wonderful job. Though you could not see the circus, the happiness you got in helping them is hundred times the worth the happiness you would have got seeing the circus. This is quite inspiring. Thanks.