The Silent Gift

The Silent Gift

If you had a million dollars to give away, who would you give it to?

✍️Author’s Note
This reflection contrasts cultural attitudes toward money — from European discretion to American openness — and recalls lessons of stewardship from my father: that true giving is quiet, without vanity. The chosen cause, children’s cancer research, is presented not as a fashionable gesture but as a moral imperative. The piece closes with dignity and quiet conviction, aligning generosity with humanity.

Letter to the Prompt
Simplicity for clarity, cynicism for truth.

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

— Mother Teresa

Dear prompt,

This question feels spontaneous, almost playful, but at the same time uncomfortable. Talking about money was considered bad taste at my parents’ dinner table. Our American friends seemed to follow a different etiquette: more open, less discreet, and never shy about mixing money with manners.

Here in Europe, tradition leaned toward noblesse oblige — the old belief that those with means carry an obligation to give back to society and safeguard nature. Modern society, however, often prefers spectacle: big checks handed over with cameras flashing, charity as an entry ticket to polite society. My father had a quieter view. In his study, he spoke of stewardship: to grow value, to give back discreetly, and to leave the world a little better than we found it.

So, who should get this million-dollar gift? The answer is actually simple. If you have ever walked the halls of a children’s cancer hospital, you don’t need to think twice. Here in the Netherlands, around 600 children are diagnosed with cancer every year; tragically, one in four does not survive. Supporting research and treatment for these children is not only a matter of charity, it is a moral duty and a beacon of hope for mankind.

If I had a million dollars to give away, that is where it would go. Quietly, without fanfare, but with conviction.

WJJH, October 2025

📌Blog Description
.The Silent Gift — On money, manners, and stewardship: a reflection on giving, cultural contrasts, and why the quiet choice of funding children’s cancer research speaks louder than grand gestures.