If you've ever been to a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game at PNC Park you have likely been ushered to your seat by some kindly senior gentleman with an old rag to wipe off your seat. When they are done a tip is appropriate, buck or two for his kind gesture and the assurance that he will look out for you and your guests during the game. This past month my daughter took me to a ball game. We arrived very early to get a chance to see the teams warm up. Our seating section usher lead us to our seats with a big smile, wiped them down for us and helped us get situated. I gave him a couple bucks and he watched over us through the game. As I watched more folks file in I noticed to my great displeasure how many never even said thanks to the old fella. Where has our generosity gone? It seems to me that generosity, and simple kindness for that matter, spring from gratitude and should end in some corresponding positive action. When we are grateful to someone or some organization we should show it. It's the thing that separates us from the animal kingdom. And hey, even dogs show gratitude by licking your hand! I like to think of generosity as a way of life. It is something we must do faithfully over time, something we should lend our heart and passions to. Generosity is something that builds up other people by encouraging them and works to brighten our own lives when we see others experience the joy of recognition.

When teacher who has served one of our school districts well is retiring it is the time to take a moment to be generous to that person with gratitude. A note, a phone call, a handshake. When a waitress or waiter serves us very well at dinner it is appropriate to give a better than average tip. A coach who gives forty hours a week in evenings after working forty hours a week days to give our kids his or her experience and care needs to be treated with generosity. Good moms and dads should be cared for all their lives with gratitude. A caring local small business should be shown gratitude by our customer loyalty. What goes around comes around. I attended a local town meeting recently where a guy spent thirty minutes complaining about the most ridiculous things I could imagine. As I sat there I was wondering why in the world the township's leaders ever wanted to serve in their offices knowing this guy, and probably a hundred others, was going to be there every month harassing them about the height of grass growing along township roads. But of course I do know why they serve, they are grateful for the opportunity to help others and enjoy expressing their gratitude generously.

I firmly believe that the way we treat others is how we will be treated ourselves. I believe that the level of generosity we live by is the level we will experience back in our lives. Generosity is a way of life. It is one of the things I enjoy most about the people of our valley.