Today is the feast of Saint Nicolas, which is at the origins of gift-giving to children around this period. In some countries these gifts are left in childrens' shoes. The tradition is based on his generosity as Bishop of Myra, as he was accustomed to leaving gifts for the poor while they were asleep.
One story tells of a poor man with three daughters. In those times a woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value, a dowry. The greater the dowry, the better was the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry and was in danger of poverty, prostitution or slavery. But this man was poor, and so his daughters, without dowries, were destined to be sold into slavery. Mysteriously, on three different occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home - providing the necessary dowries. The bags of gold, tossed by the Bishop through an open window, - as seen in this exquisite painting by Fra Angelico - landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry, while the girls slept unaware in bed.
There is so much in this tale, about generosity, or awareness of what we have been given, or the real meaning of this period, or about caring for those who are in difficulty at this time.
" In the African understanding of ubuntu, our generosity comes from realizing that we could not be alive, nor could we accomplish anything, without the support, love, and generosity of all the people who have helped us to become the people we are today. Certainly it is from experiencing this generosity of God and the generosity of those in our life that we learn gratitude and to be generous to others."
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
"I think that generosity has many levels. We have to think generously, speak generously, and act generously. Thinking well of others and speaking well of others is the basis for generous giving. It means that we relate to others as part of our 'gen' or 'kin' and treat them as family. Generosity has to come from hearts that are fearless and free and are willing to share abundantly all that is given to us."
Henri Nouwen
