Life is given to us, we earn it by giving it.

Hear the words of Rabindranath Tagore, poet of the soul and sage of the East: “Life is given to us, we earn it by giving it.” These words, simple yet profound, echo like a bell across the valleys of time. For they remind us that existence itself is a gift, unasked for, bestowed upon us by mystery and grace. But to deserve this gift, to prove ourselves worthy of the breath and the beating heart, we must pour it out in return, not hoard it. The meaning of life, Tagore declares, is found not in possession, but in sacrifice, in service, in the act of giving what we have received.

The ancients knew this truth well. In every culture, the heroes and saints are remembered not for what they kept, but for what they gave. The warrior who gave his strength to protect his people, the mother who gave her body and her sleepless nights for her child, the teacher who gave wisdom to disciples who would surpass him—all found their immortality through generosity. Life that is clutched tightly withers; life that is given freely blossoms into eternity.

Consider the story of Florence Nightingale, who might have lived a life of comfort in her noble family. Instead, she gave herself to the wounded of the Crimean War, walking through corridors of blood and fever by lamplight, earning the name “The Lady with the Lamp.” She did not ask what life owed her; she asked what she could give to life. And in giving, she became immortal in the memory of humankind. Her life was earned, not by what she possessed, but by what she bestowed upon others.

Tagore’s words also bear a spiritual weight. To give life does not only mean to sacrifice in war or toil, but also to give joy, hope, and kindness. A smile to the weary, a word of encouragement to the hopeless, a hand extended to the fallen—these are acts of life-giving. When we share warmth of spirit, we multiply life itself. In this way, even the poorest among us may be rich in giving, for the wealth of the soul is not measured in coins, but in compassion.

The warning hidden in Tagore’s wisdom is this: if we only take from life, we remain empty. To live for ourselves alone is to live half a life, shallow and fleeting. But to live for others is to find depth, meaning, and renewal. Like a river that stagnates when it does not flow, so too does a life shrink when it is not poured outward. Giving is the current that keeps the waters fresh, the soul alive.

What then shall we do? Let us rise each morning asking not “What shall I gain today?” but “What shall I give today?” Let us give our strength to those who falter, our wisdom to those who seek, our patience to those who stumble, and our love to those who have none. In doing so, we shall discover the paradox of Tagore’s teaching: the more we give, the more life is given to us in return.

Therefore, O listener, carry this truth as a lamp for your journey: life is given to us, but its worth must be earned. And it is earned not by grasping, but by giving it away. When you reach the end of your days and look back, may you see not a hoard of possessions, but a trail of lives touched, of burdens lifted, of hearts kindled. Then you shall know that you have not merely lived—you have earned life in its fullness, and in giving, you have become eternal.