Saturday, April 24, 2010

How thoughtless are we
I have noticed this aspect in many a human being. We tend to find it worthwhile to give gifts as cash or kind to those who have in plenty rather than to those who are in need.

In fact, the richer the receiver is, the costlier is the gift/cash that we give to them. We spend hours in shops to choose an apt gift for the richer class. Breaking our minds as to whether it would deem fit for them. And if it would be fit for their status. All time, effort and penny would just be shunned aside. Why not, for after all what we consider as a great gift is something that might just be a thing worthwhile to be put in the garbage according to them.


But if the receiver is poorer, then we think why waste money on them. And we look out for the least amount that we can afford for them. We feel just gifting a token amount to the needy is by itself a great deed done by us.


But the response shown by them is amazing indeed. That paltry amount given by us is a huge help to them. That is how they consider it. And they are filled with gratitude to us for that action.
A lot is there to think I feel.

14 comments:

KParthasarathi said...

The gifts on social occasions like marriage or similar functions have become social obligations that cannot be done away with and very often the recepients may not know who gifted what.As Lakshmi has said rightly the gifts in kinds are lost or left behind and the richer the one is they serve little purpose except the feeling that we had returned back what was gifted by them to us on earlier occasions.
Gifts to poor serve an useful purpose if given thoughtfully keeping their need in mind.
But personal gifts to close friends on birthday or similar such occasions reinforce the friendship and are accepted with gratitude.This is a must and should not be refused hurting the giver.
A thought provoking post.

Anya said...

Its so the truth :))

Have a nice weekend
:)
:)

deeps said...

so thoughtful...
i m just reminded of this passage from the Bible
"When you give a lunch or a dinner, don't invite only your friends, your family, your other relatives, and your rich neighbors. At another time they will invite you to eat with them, and you will be repaid. Instead, when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 Then you will be blessed, because they have nothing and cannot pay you back. But you will be repaid when the good people rise from the dead."

sury siva said...

Whenever one gives anything expecting anything of any kind it is not borne out of any true love. It can hardly be a gift at all. Gift is something given without any demands or expectations nor bought under some rule book.
People give gifts nowadays to their own relatives just to exhibit their status. They are equally annoyed when the gifts they get in return (from their donees) do not match their own in terms of price. The moment the donors leave their houses, they just give the gifts to their servants in their households, to manifest their annoyance and arrogance.

lakshmi said...

@Mr.Sury, true indeed sir.
I remembered of many instances when Ihave received the gift I once gave to a relative....after passing many hands it reached me again.

Greener Bangalore said...

This country to Grow, should stop gifting the poor!!! hold on let me finish! as the saying goes - lets start teaching them how to fish rather than 'gifting' a fish every other day - (no politician or corrupt bureaucrat is ready to 'Teach'...they are always ready to 'Gift'...all those stuppiddd FREE TV offers....and 2Rs/kg rice and what not....@@@)

Yes instead of gifting the rich with a rich gift...if one can find and feed the genuine one who starves/needy....of course that gives us immense satisfaction! the pleasure and gratification of giving is Indescribable!

Our genuine friends, rich or poor don't expect anything from us.

These are all practices and 'DAYS' which are wisely implemented by the multinationals to sell their respective products and services.....

Herrad said...

Hi,
It has been awhile since I visited many blogs.
Decided to do a quick visit to say hello to as many blogs as possible tonight..
Nice to visit your blog its been ages, I am sure it will not be so long again especially now my life is getting better.
I went out this afternoon for the first time since 19 August 2009 and it was brilliant.
Lovely to feel my world getting bigger again after all this time in bed.
Have a good evening and a pleasant day tomorrow.
Love,
Herrad
PS
Please visit Steve @ The Wheel Of Fortuna

http://spinfortunaswheel.blogspot.com/

Important we support him in the first weeks of his bereavement.

surjit singh said...

A nice post with a great message.I admire your noble thoughts.
God bless.

arvind said...

you have noticed the very crux of the life..
very nicely written..

lot of times - their pains would bring tears.. why this indiffernce?

me asked the earth.. why it is?
richer are like trees and poor are like grass..
she got angry..
"you idiot - the grass alone so nearer to me and save my dignity - from the wicked sun - by coveing me full.. they need tiny water - not like those trees - who always eat me inside out?"

me could not derive any conclusion..

Samvedna said...

Beautiful thought..I also feel sad when I see people giving gift according to the host, I always feel that we must give according to our affordability and occasion.

அன்புடன் அருணா said...

Great message!thanx Lakshmi!

lakshmi said...

thanks Aruna

Saras said...

Ms.Lakshmi,
I adopt a different method! I always give something that can be termed "useful" as a Gift (which need not be very expensive) and more important, I ensure that the price tag is erased and that there is no reference to the DONOR. It would keep the donees busy trying to figure out the Donor!!

lakshmi said...

That is sweet of you Mr.Saras...thanks
many a time I too follow that method..