What Allows One to Give?

The Stone

by Anthony de Mello

An old woman had reached the outskirts of the village and settled down under a tree for the night when a villager came running up to her and said, “The stone! The stone! Give me the precious stone!”

“What stone?” asked the old woman.

“Last night the Lord appeared to me a dream,” said the villager, “and told me that if I went to the outskirts of the village at dusk I should find an old woman who would give me a precious stone that would make me rich forever.”

The old woman rummaged in her bag and pulled out a stone. “The Lord probably meant this one,” she said, as she handed the stone over the villager. “I found it on a forest path some days ago. You can certainly have it.

The villager looked at the stone in wonder. It was a diamond. Probably the largest diamond in the whole world for it was as large as a person’s head.

The villager took the diamond and walked away. All night the villager tossed about in bed, unable to sleep. Next day at the crack of dawn the villager woke the old woman and said, “Give me the wealth that makes it possible for you to give this diamond away so easily.”

What allows one to give what one has to others? What allows one to give easily?

Perhaps we can find the answer hidden in our own sense of gratitude. Since the beginning of our academic year so many Catholic educators have given their time and their talents so generously: those who share our ministry by investing their time as coaches, room parents and school advisory members. What allows those engaged in Catholic education to give so generously?

I believe what motivates all of us is found in the Mission of Catholic education--our response to serve out of Gratitude. Thanks for co-creating and living the Mission of Catholic education through your generosity.

Thank you for all you do for your school, your children, and the Church.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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