“Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely.” ― Roy T. Bennett

Last week my father won the lottery!

Wait!!! Don’t start congratulating me just yet! 

It was the Brazilian Lottery. Plus, he only got 5 numbers instead of 6, or something like that.  

He won 1,680.00 Brazilian Reais. In US Dollars it would be around $300.00. He has been playing forever and never wins more than a couple of dollars. So this is very exciting for him.

“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” ― Mother Theresa

He wanted to share his winnings with the family. He is giving 400 reais each to my mom, my brother, my sister and I. He is keeping 80 reais.

That, to him, was a fair split.  That, right there, illustrate how my parents are.  They think of themselves last.   He is choosing to keep only 80 reais of his winnings. He thinks this is a perfect split.

Of course, the four of us wanted him to keep the whole thing. My sister told him she didn’t need any money, that he should keep it all.  His answer was: “None of you guys need it, but you all deserve it”.

Isn’t he the cutest?

In the end we decided to accept the money.  It made him feel good.  The money will go back to him anyway, as I am always giving him money to play.

Our family believes that is better to give than receive. I am glad I was raised with that value.

“If nature has made you for a giver, your hands are born open, and so is your heart; and though there may be times when your hands are empty, your heart is always full, and you can give things out of that—warm things, kind things, sweet things—help and comfort and laughter—and sometimes gay, kind laughter is the best help of all.”
― Frances Hodgson Burnett