The house with a Date tree will not go hungry

I sat with my grandfather a long time ago, he told me about his childhood in the days of the famine. His house was the only one in the neighborhood with a date tree. They didn't have anything else to eat.

When the dates were in season, every day the neighborhood kids would line up outside of the house, and stick their hand out for one or two dates, their meal for the day. My great-grandmother only had one tree, a limited yield, no cattle, no grain. And yet, my family would never eat more than they needed every day, and they would give out all of the dates they could. She never sold her crop a day in her life.

Now, our land has been blessed with oil. Those days of the famine are long gone. He only told me this story, as he was happy that I turned down the dates he offered me, because I didn't like the taste of those specific ones. He was grateful for the blessing, to have the ability to be picky.

In these days of abundance, it's my great-grandmother that I try and live by, remember, and honor her memory by continuing her legacy of generosity and compassion.