ATTITUDES AND GRATITUDES

Maybe the following poems will help provide a look into the heart of a person. The method of determining the values and character of an individual is to know the person's attitude on giving to and taking from others. It is difficult to assess the attitudes of a person on a specific subject or judge a person by listening to others when it is based on his giving qualities. Most of the time a person's attitude on the outside is not in balance with his giving heart on the inside. Why did he give what he did, when he did, and what was his perception of the benefits of the gift or gifts are some of the areas of concern in basing our perception of whether a person has a giving heart or not. People give for the benefit others, while some give for the benefit of themselves. The scales for determining a person's heart for giving is not found by seeing his or her name on a card, bulletin, or the local newspaper. Maybe the following poems will help provide a look into the heart of a person.

The Giver
By Gerald E. Cumby

The more I get the more I'll give,
For that's how God wants us to live;
Not pretending, only surrendering our hearts, our lives and ambitions.
For it's how we give and not what we give that changes our world's conditions.
It's giving and receiving to give again and not just living on good intentions.
For you see, God gave to get just as the plan was set.
Not just to receive or to achieve His desire to be number one;
But to accomplish the miracle of multiplying the death of one into thousands of daughters and sons.
Giving living is what it's all about; God achieved the impossible task.
Now you are to give your life to Him, from you that is all He asks.

The Taker
By Gerald E. Cumby

The more I get the more I want;
          Thus my nature is exposed...
Because when I get the things I want
          It's not the thrill I first supposed.

Yet I will keep on desiring the best...
          The most of everything...
To satisfy that urge to get,
          To see what thrill the next thing brings.