Gift (Award Winning) - An Inspirational story about a Father's unspoken love.

Summary

This poignant script reflects on the complex relationship between a son and his father. The son struggles with feelings of disappointment, perceiving his father as unsuccessful despite his hard work and sacrifices. However, after his father's passing, he learns of his father's selflessness through a community leader. His father’s quiet generosity and dedication to helping others reveal a different kind of wealth—one based on giving, not accumulating. The son comes to realize that being rich is not about material success, but about the impact one has on others’ lives.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker expresses a lack of admiration for their father due to his financial struggles, despite his hard work.
• 😀 The speaker felt their father wasn't particularly smart or successful compared to others.
• 😀 The speaker didn't view their father as an inspiration and had a negative perspective about his life choices.
• 😀 The speaker's father taught them that wealth isn't about how much you have, but how much you give.
• 😀 Despite the speaker's feelings, their father’s actions showed generosity and a focus on helping others.
• 😀 The speaker resented being poor like their father and wanted to be more successful when they grew up.
• 😀 The speaker became distant from their family, particularly avoiding reunion dinners due to a new job and being busy.
• 😀 A letter was discovered detailing the father’s donations to the community chest, though the speaker was unaware of this.
• 😀 The speaker learned that their father had been selflessly helping others, particularly children in need, without seeking recognition.
• 😀 The father's acts of kindness helped transform a depressed boy into a successful individual, showing the lasting impact of his generosity.
• 😀 The speaker finally recognizes that their father’s real legacy was his giving spirit, not financial success, and plans to honor him on his birthday.

Q & A

Why didn't the speaker admire their father when they were younger?

The speaker felt their father was poor, unsuccessful, and not very smart, despite working harder than other fathers. They didn't see him as an inspiration.

What was the speaker's attitude towards their father's financial status?

The speaker was dissatisfied with their father's financial situation and did not want to be poor like him. They aspired to be more successful.

What did the speaker's father believe about being rich?

The speaker's father believed that being rich was not about how much one has, but rather about how much one gives to others.

How did the speaker's view of their father change over time?

Over time, the speaker came to appreciate their father's selflessness and contributions to others, especially after learning about his secret charitable actions.

Why did the speaker not return home for the reunion dinner?

The speaker was busy with a new job and did not have time to return home for the reunion dinner. They hinted that they might return after the New Year.

What did the speaker discover about their father's charitable actions after his death?

The speaker learned that their father had been donating money to the community chest, which they had not been aware of, and that he had been helping many people despite his own struggles.

What impact did the speaker's father have on the community?

The speaker's father was described as a selfless man who had a profound impact on others, particularly children, by encouraging them and helping them overcome their problems, such as a depressed boy who later grew up to be a successful individual.

Why did the speaker's father continue working despite being able to retire?

The speaker's father continued working because he wanted to help even more people, showing his dedication to serving the community even after he could have comfortably retired.

What was the speaker's reaction to receiving recognition for their father's charitable donations?

The speaker was initially surprised and reluctant to accept recognition, as they felt the donations were not their own but were made by their father, who had kept his actions private.

How did the speaker choose to honor their father on his birthday?

The speaker decided to celebrate their father's life by reflecting on his values and the lessons he imparted, particularly about the importance of giving and being rich in spirit rather than material wealth.