Generous and trusting

Benjamin Franklin reminds me of my husband who is generous and trusting. Several times Benjamin was with a friend who had no money and he became their source of financial support not repaying the debt later in life. He had a friend who went to England with him left his wife and child could not find work but, was adulterous and in my opinion a scoundrel. At the end of his relationship with Mr. Franklin he has a feeling of a burden lifted because this friend had lived off his means for 9 months or more but, he describes him thus "I loved him, notwithstanding, for he had many amiable qualities."

My husband has the same loving quality where he looks at a person's good qualities notwithstanding their poor choices. He is loved by all and just today I received an email from a parent of a boy in his quorum who praises him for being in their words ""fun" and warm and interested ". How a good example he is to me on being affable with people and loved by all. He has a power of persuasion for good in people's lives because they respect and like him. It is one thing to be respected by much more difficult to be respected and liked. I might be respected but, defiantly not likes because I am too private.

Benjamin Franklin is very affable and caring of others he stays with an elderly lady and gives her much comfort with his conversations easing her lowliness. He stays there even though he could find lodging closer to his work. He does not speak evil of those who used his money and never returned It. You can tell he cares more about his friendship than about money.

He was so liked and trusted that the gentlemen who was on the boat with him on the way over after 18 months In London hired him to start a mercantile shop back in Philadelphia. Just after that he was found out to be a great swimmer and Sr. William Wyndham wanted to hire him to teach swimming to his boys. He realizes that he could have started his own business of teaching swimming if he had not already decided to be in the mercantile business.

Benjamin on his own and at so young an age brings home the idea that the brain is not fully developed until after age 19 and that youth even though they are talented and resourceful need guidance and protection from those who would take advantage of their youth and inexperience. It is so apparent in Benjamin's life that this is the case but, had his father been more willing to trust him and start a printing shop than he would have avoided some of that. The experience at working at various print shops going to plays and reading lots of different books were valuable experiences in their own right.

Sometimes experiences in life come at a cost and could curb our generosity or our trust in others. However, some choice individuals regardless of negative experiences they have had with others remain generous and trusting. They are noble individuals the type of soul that innervates societies and benefits individuals and influences their circle of influence for good.