Two Stories from the Desert Fathers

One of the fathers said, “If anyone asks you for something, and you give it to him, even if you are forced to give it, let your heart go with the gift, as it is written, ‘If a man forces you to go with him one mile, go with him two’ (Matt. 5:41). This means that if you are asked for anything, give it with a willing heart.”

  

It was said that a monk who had made baskets was putting handles on them when he heard another monk saying nearby, “What shall I do? The trader is coming soon and I haven’t got any handles to put on my baskets.” So he took off the handles he had put on his own baskets and took them to the nearby monk and said, “I don’t need these; take them and put them on your baskets.” He helped the brother to finish his baskets but left his own unfinished.

~Stories from the Desert Fathers