Why She Gave It Away

She had walked these mountain paths many times before. The air was cool, the stream water sharp and clear. As she bent to fill her flask, something caught her eye in the creek bed — a small, smooth stone glinting under the surface. She pulled it out. It was a gemstone, rare and beautiful, the kind people dream of finding but never do.

She tucked it into her bag and kept walking.

The next day, she crossed paths with a traveler — worn boots, empty hands, and eyes dulled by hunger. Without a second thought, she sat down, pulled out her food, and offered him a portion.

As he reached for the bread, he noticed the gem lying inside her bag. His face lit up.

“Can I have that?” he asked, pointing to the stone.

She looked at him, then at the gem. And without hesitation, she placed it in his hand.

He stared, almost in disbelief, then thanked her and left, practically running down the path with the stone in his pocket. That gem could change everything. It could buy him comfort, security — maybe even a new life.

But something didn’t sit right.

Days passed, and the weight of the stone in his pocket grew heavier. Not because of its size, but because of what it represented.

So he turned around.

He found the woman still walking, still offering kindness in the simplest ways.

He held out the stone.

“I’ve been thinking,” he said. “This gem is priceless. But there’s something you have that’s worth even more. I want that instead.”

She looked at him, not surprised.

“What do you think I have that’s more valuable?” she asked.

“Whatever it was,” he said, “that made it so easy for you to give it away.”

She smiled — not because she had the answer, but because he’d asked the right question.

---

Reflection

Generosity isn’t about what you give. It’s about how you give it. That quiet confidence, the freedom from attachment, the ability to see someone else’s need as more important than your own possession — that’s what makes a soul rich.

________

 

Out Of The Box May 12, 2025