“Generosity on an Interdependent Web”

“Generosity on an Interdependent Web” Justin M. McCreary     We oversimplify the practice of generosity, by focusing most often on the practice of giving, which is important. However, what we then leave out is the importance of receiving gifts. It is easy in a culture that idealizes the myth of the Self-made Man, to forget that giving and receiving are both part of the same practice. We cannot teach our children that giving is a positive value while repudiating the one who receives. Brene Brown puts it this way in her book The Gifts of Imperfection, “When we attach judgement to receiving help, we knowingly or unknowingly attach judgement to giving help.” It is important that we teach our children to be generous, but it is just as important to model the other side and learn to graciously receive help, regardless of how self-made we feel.