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I was asked recently on a podcast, “What was my earliest memory of generosity?”
An interesting question I hadn’t thought about before. Then I remembered.
I got my first work permit at 11 years old and went to work at a roadside stand picking strawberries in the fields and then worked my way up to helping customers.
The owner was a tough, no nonsense, second-generation, cigar-smoking farmer who roamed the fields and made sure things were running smoothly, and at the stand every customer was greeted. He ran a tight efficient operation.
But it was his generosity that influenced me the most.
Some customers would buy a few things and then say to know one in particular, “that’s all we can afford right now,” and if he heard that he would say, “Here take another quart of berries on me, or grab a few more ears of corn because you know the kids love it.”
And, if he had a good week, he gave the field workers a “little extra.” I never forgot the look on people’s face and their gratitude from his unconditional generosity.
He never bragged about it or mentioned it to others. Yet this became a major part of his legacy. In his own way, he created a lasting impression on this kid, and hundreds of others, that giving to give again, is greater than giving to get.
Thank you, Pete Wambach of Wambach Farms, in upstate NY.
Next week is America’s Thanksgiving; please demonstrate your thankfulness by giving to someone without hoping to get anything in return. That will be the greater part of your legacy also.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!