I Have 2 Cookies

Today while doing a little outreach, I saw a homeless man sitting on the side of the road. I pulled over, as it is my job to offer assistance. I introduced myself as part of the outreach team, and asked if I could do anything for him. He said yes. I asked what he needed. He said he just met another homeless man who was new to the area, and he required help. He went on to say that he had given him half of his belongings. The broken are the beautiful I thought.

There is a meme floating around of a young boy with 2 cookies. He is sticking his hand out offering a cooking to a man. The young boy asked if he would like a cookie. The man said, "I have a car, house and a pocket full of money." The young boy said "Yes, but do you have a cookie?" How beautiful it is to be willing to give, when you have so little. Just as the homeless man today said he needed help. Not for himself. But for someone who was less fortunate then him. 

May we all understand the value giving. When we give, we give hope. We create connectedness. We fill a void, greater than the need. Compassion leads to passion. And there is no greater passion then one who helps the less fortunate. You need not give up your riches to serve. But to serve, is where you will become rich. 

I have sat with those who could easily stroke a check for 20 million dollars without blinking an eye. And the reason they didn't, is because money was their greatest addiction. {This is usually the point where I would go off talking about how money doesn't make you happy. It really doesn't, and the studies confirm it.} But, that is something that you must find out for yourself. Instead tonight I will talk about 2 cookies. 

"I am happiest when I give one of my 2 cookies away."

I have been both a rich and a poor man. I have logged in over 15,000 hours of volunteer and pro bono work in my 54 years of life. And the take away for me, is that I am happiest when I give one of my 2 cookies away. This doesn't make me a great man. I can approach it from a philosophical point of view, and say how this makes me rich. Or, I could say that this is a godly thing to do. But the truth is, giving away a cookie has filled my heart, as no other action has ever been able to do. It is beyond words. It is beyond emotion. It is beyond comprehension. 

I don't expect everyone to understand. And honestly, I don't care. The reward is not in the reason. The reward is simply sharing a cookie. I have 2 cookies. You may have so much more. But do you have a cookie......