I used to read this story by Shel Silverstein to my students and never got through the book without tearing up.
The story of that tree giving all of itself to that child, who even at the end of their life, took what the tree gave so freely. The tree absolutely gave everything it had.
I recently found a website (see below) that lists 10 things we can take from this story:
- Don’t Keep Score
- Go Barefoot
- You Can’t Outrun Your Problems
- Just Cool It
- Focus More on What you Need Than What you Want
- Just Be There
- Say Please and Thank You
- A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
- Let Love Rule
- Books Can Teach So Much
But I think the most important lesson for me from this story is that generosity is a practice without measure of reciprocation or reward. It is a pattern of living where the giving comes without thought because it is second nature to the giver.
I hoard my generosity and often find myself thinking about holding back to protect myself from giving too much. I hope that, by working on my intention, I can do better.
~Lydia Patrck
The giving Tree is a heart jerk book. It is one of a kind. Shel Silverstein took a complex human trait and opened it to children. I agree with you, Lydia. This has so much to teach. I get stuck (like you) on how much to hold back because I feel like I could be taken advantage of ( even by those that have no intention to do so). One could have the attitude that generosity is a flame that is never diminished. Light one candle, then another, and another. the flip side of that coin is much more finite. You can end up getting cut down.
So it is ours to see, hear and experience our generosity and know its purpose and place. There is an intelligent way to be generous. It is SO Very worth our consideration.