A Charitable Conversation
The Salvation Army realized that it had never received a donation from one of the city’s most successful lawyers. Hoping to change that, a volunteer paid him a visit at his elegant office.
“Sir,” the volunteer began politely, “our records show that, despite your annual income of over two million dollars, you’ve never given to charity. Wouldn’t you like to give something back to your community?”
The lawyer leaned back in his chair and said, “Well, did your research also tell you that my mother is very ill and drowning in medical bills?”
The volunteer, caught off guard, stammered, “Oh, no, I didn’t know that…”
“And,” the lawyer continued, “did it mention that my brother, a disabled veteran, is blind and confined to a wheelchair, struggling to care for his wife and six children?”
The volunteer looked stricken. “I-I had no idea.”
The lawyer went on, “Or that my sister’s husband died in a terrible car accident, leaving her with three children — one disabled, one with learning challenges — and a mortgage she can barely pay?”
At this point, the poor volunteer could only whisper, “I’m so sorry. I truly didn’t know.”
The lawyer smiled, leaned forward, and said, “Well then… if I don’t give any money to them, what made you think I’d give any to you?”
