Be grateful to those who stand by you in difficult times. Express your gratitude sincerely. In return, be a source of support for others when they need you. While you can repay monetary debts, there are some debts that can never be fully repaid. Consider this: someone helps you financially during a crisis, and you return the money once the crisis is over. But can you truly repay the kindness of those who stood by you in your darkest hours, and those who betrayed you during those same times? Remember, you can repay loans, but you can never fully repay a debt of kindness. A debt of kindness is more than just a transaction.
By doing good deeds and offering sound advice, you create a lasting impression on people. The benefits of being indebted to others are profound. The goodwill of others can act as a shield, protecting you during difficult times. After repaying those who helped you financially, don’t foolishly deny the debt you owe them for their emotional support. It would be ungrateful to forget those who stood by you when you were in need. Instead, keep an eye out for opportunities to help those who have helped you, even in small ways. When the chance arises, be quick to assist them.
Don’t sit idle with the hope of only returning the favors of those who have helped you or doing only similar good deeds. Whenever you get an opportunity to help someone, seize it. Opportunities to help others don’t come often. When you get one, give your all. A few kind words, a piece of sound advice, or a recommendation for a good cause can completely change someone’s life. If your life is spent doing good deeds and serving others, your life will be fulfilled. There is more honor in giving a hand than in receiving one.
You may never know when someone, somewhere, is praising you, remembering you with respect, or praying for your well-being because of something good you’ve done or said. Know for sure that there is no greater achievement in this short life. Those who measure their worth solely by the accumulation of wealth are mistaken. It’s not wealth that matters, but deeds. The Almighty loves generosity. Those who are miserly with their wealth, who don’t fulfill the rights of their neighbors or the poor, will find their wealth leading them to destruction. If wealth, even when abundant, cannot help others in times of need, it will become a curse to its owner. On the other hand, those who alleviate the suffering of others with their money will find that their charity protects them from calamities. There is no peace like the peace that comes from giving.
It is not right to turn away someone who has not helped you or who has denied your help, if you have the means to help them. It is also harsh to keep a strict account of every penny during someone’s time of need, especially if they did not help you during your difficult times. A human heart should never be so hard. If you do a favor to someone, they may forget it or deny it, but the One who deserves the greatest reward for your good deeds will not. When you do a favor to someone, it will be repaid in a different way in this life. Even without trying, you will receive something. God dislikes ingratitude the most. Therefore, be careful! Even if you have benefited slightly from someone, never forget it. Bad times follow good times. A debt of gratitude cannot be repaid with money. The debt of gratitude must be repaid through good deeds.
