A Loving Model of Consistent Generosity (Monday Moment ep. 469)

Live Inspired Podcast with John O'Leary

John O'Leary

Self-improvement, Bestsellingauthor, Education, Dailyinspiration, Society & Culture, Liveinspired, Johnoleary, Inspiration, Joebuck, Inspiredliving, Onfire, Relationships

4.9 • 672 Ratings

🗓️ 6 June 2022

⏱️ 6 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

“You can easily tell the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Years ago, I ran a small construction company. Continuously running material, picking up tools, and dropping lumber, I spent significant time in a truck with my General Contractor, Harold Stewart.

Working together for almost a decade, Harold certainly taught me much about framing, wiring, plumbing and painting. The greatest lesson, though, was the power of consistent generosity.

My friends, there are so many examples of selfish people, tragic events and senseless violence today. In a world as broken as ours we often wonder what we can do to make a difference.

The example my friend- my brother- Harold models is a simple solution to the profound challenges we face today: Love people.

Choose to be kind to the one in front of you. Choose to invest in relationships for the long term. And choose to be generous to those who can’t repay it.

It may not change the entire world, but unquestionably it will change the life of the one you serve. And perhaps that's how we begin making the actual change the world longs for today.

Learn more about the Live Inspired Podcast with John O'Leary at JohnOLearyInspires.com.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Well, hello, my friends, and welcome to the Live Inspired podcast Monday morning moments with John O'Leary.
0:15.2	I record these so that you and I can begin our days and our weeks in awe and on fire with a burst of inspiration.
0:21.5	And as you know by now, we typically begin with a quote.
0:24.9	So let's roll.
0:26.1	You can easily tell the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.
0:33.2	It's a quote from Gote.
0:35.1	Years ago, I ran a small construction company, continuously running material,
0:40.5	picking up tools, drop in lumber. I spent significant amount of time in a truck with my general
0:45.8	contractor. His name was Harold Stewart. Working together for almost a decade, Harold certainly
0:51.7	taught me much about framing and wiring and plumbing and painting.
0:56.6	The greatest lesson, though, that he taught me was the power of consistent generosity.
1:03.3	Every time we passed anyone asking for money at a stoplight, Harold would reach into his pocket,
1:09.2	pull out some money, rolled down his window, and call the man or the woman over.
1:13.3	The light would turn green, the window would roll back up, the truck would move forward.
1:17.8	But not before Harold had invested in another human.
1:21.8	One morning as we drove away, I asked Harold why he always gave.
1:27.3	Wasn't there a better way to help?
1:28.7	Wasn't he afraid the man or the woman might just waste the money?
1:32.4	Was his generosity actually just making the problem even worse?
1:37.4	Harold looked at me sternly, seemed slightly bothered, and then firmly responded,
1:44.1	John, I've been there before.
1:47.5	Who knows?
	...

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