Two Kinds of People
A friend once said, “There are two kinds of people—givers and takers.” His comment obviously put him among the givers and seemed a little harsh toward others unlike himself.
I’ve been thinking about two classes of individuals since Kayleen Powell, a scholarship recipient, sent me a beautifully hand-decorated quotation from Dietrich Bonhoeffer: “. . . we hardly realize how much more we receive than we give, and life cannot be rich without such gratitude.”
More impactful to me was the latter part of the quotation: “It is so easy to overestimate the importance of our own achievements compared with what we owe to the help of others.”
That forced me to review my life—from early childhood to the present. It amazed me to realize how many people did so much for me—something most of them probably weren’t aware of doing.
I thought of the wonderful, self-giving teachers—and that eliminates only two from first grade through grad school. I’ve been having a delightful time reminding myself of the kindness of friends, acquaintances, and even strangers.
My first book contract came because a friend told a publisher about my writing; I signed with my literary agent because writer Mark Littleton suggested an agent I’d never heard of (who was then new in the business). On and on goes my list.
Often the giving is only a few words, a hug, or something seemingly insignificant. Last week, Sharon Fincannon said an acquaintance made a casual remark that radically changed the direction of Sharon’s life. I’ve experienced a few myself.
I thought of my monthly newsletters, which I’ve been sending out for ten years. Each time, anywhere from five to fifty people email and tell me how touched they were. That was my giving to them, but I doubt that they have any idea how much affirmation they show me.
