Giving

​Thankfully I seem to be like most in that if I see suffering, I try to alleviate it.  When an animal is injured, I take it to the vet.  When a person is injured, I take them to the hospital.  When someone suffers loss, I will do something about it if it is within my power to do so.
We had a baby crow that had obviously been rejected by its parents.  Its beak was a mess.  We fed it and looked after it.  We phoned the people that care for such things, but had to call them back before they arrived, as the bird was gone.  We cared.  We wanted the best for that bird, but were powerless to provide what it really needed.
I really need to have something appropriate to give if I am to help another.  I was thinking about that this morning.  Caring is good, but caring without legs is not enough.  I am powerless if I have compassion (having compassion is better than not having compassion) but can do nothing practical to help.  As much as I may care, I need to have something appropriate to give.
People may be crossing the desert and dying of thirst.  If I have a bottle of water, I can help.  I cannot provide what they need most if I have an empty bottle of water.  If my bottle is full, I can give a number of people a drink.  If it is empty, I can give no one a drink.
It really matters less what I give, then what that represents.  I am thankful to see donations to all sorts of causes by rich people.  But I am just as thankful for what may be a way less donation from someone who did not have much to give in the first place.  Rich people get all the publicity.  They may give millions and that is great.  I do not have millions, but you can change that by sending me money.  Someone who has less to give may give tens, but their tens is more to them than the millions of a rich person.
A circle may be 360 degrees.  The gift of a rich person may be millions or 10 percent of the 360 degrees (but very welcome).  For someone else what they give represents 270 degrees of what they have.  I ask myself, who gave more?  The rich person out of their abundance, or the poor person out of their need?
I remember hearing about the banks ripping off people.  They saw they had done the wrong thing and gave back what they owed.  Someone commented that the amount (which was millions) represented one day’s interest, and they would have it all back in no time at all.
I think of a car.  It can function without many things.  Take away the back seat and it still goes.  The boot does not affect the function.  However, if I start taking parts of the motor, the car is literally at a stand-still.  A car may look pretty and prompt many ooohs of admiration, but if a part of the motor is missing it goes nowhere.
That is the reason why I think it is important I have something to give.  It is pointless me trying to help if my bottle is empty.