Thoughts on generosity

I was never one of those wonderful moms — 

You know: the ones in the ruffled aprons 

Who are always cooking roasts 

 And baking cookies and apple pies — 

But on special occasions I will make 

This amaretto brownie chip pie, 

Most of which I prefer to give away.

 It’s not exactly a selfless act; 

 It’s more to protect my figure — 

Or what’s left of it! 

And isn’t that the truth 

 Of many apparently selfless acts? 

We tend to only give away 

That which we no longer want or need. 

But each of us draws those lines — 

The boundaries between self-sacrifice, 

Self-protection, self-serving, 

And pure selfishness— in different places. 

 Where are yours? And what —

 If we were to become more generous; 

More compassionate — might need to change?