Help a man to help himself

I came across these thoughts on Philanthropy by Henry David Thoreau in his book “Walden” and I feel it would be good to share them with you.

“A man is not a good man to me because he will feed me if I should be starving, or warm me if I should be freezing, or pull me out of a ditch if I should ever fall into one… Philanthropy is not love for one’s fellow-man in the broadest sense. Howard was no doubt an exceedingly kind and worthy man in his way, and has his reward; but, comparatively speaking, what are a hundred Howards to us, if their philanthropy do not help us in our best estate, when we are most worthy to be helped?”

This brought to mind a famous quotation: “Give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day; teach him how to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime.”

It is wonderful that we have generous people who give a good portion of their wealth to the poor and needy. At the same time, we are grateful to the ones who give selflessly of themselves to these people through their lives and voluntary works.

However, I feel its important that we help the poor and needy to re-discover their worthiness and confidence in themselves. To guide them in their journeys that they have it in them to overcome the odds and to create a life that they deserve. Not just the poor and needy, but everyone whom we meet on a daily basis – to remind one another that we are complete and everything that we desire in life, it’s all there in us!

Continue to give generously – be it cash, in kind or your service; and when you do, explore how you can help him be on his feet again. It is definitely a possibility that the person you have helped along the way, will not only be able to help himself but also to help others as well.

Make a difference in someone’s life today.

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