Even if all the child can do is cry, it is still a form of generosity. If a preschooler falls down, another one wants to help him or her up. Last year, an entire town in our area was leveled by a tornado. We need to take advantage of the fact that generosity is a part of human nature by providing our youth with opportunities to be of value to some person or cause greater than themselves. Only as they contribute to otherswill they create their own proof of worthiness.
Generosity comes in many forms.
You can see it every day in simple human behaviors such as giving compliments and showing respect. They also undergird all genuine teacher-leamer interactions. To be patient, to listen, to share a smile, a joke, or even a tear are powerful gifts in a culture where abrasiveness, ridicule, and poor manners are so common. An apology to one we have offended can be a form of generosity, because it puts one in a position of humility. Even more powerful is the generosity of forgiveness extended to those who have hurt us.