A generous man set once went for a picnic with his family. While still on the way, in a deserted place, they ran out of drinking water.
They tried in vain looking for water everywhere, however they could not find it. The peak of summer heat became unbearable and soon his exhausted children started crying out of thirst.
The man even prayed for water but was still unable to find any. It was then that he spotted a monk meditating under a tree. Hoping that the monk would have some water he approached the mediating man.
The monk told him, “Go towards the East, you will find a brook nearby.” The happy man knowing that his wife and children are very tired, requested the monk to care for his family until he came back with water. The monk agreed right away.
The man went to fetch water, found the brook and after quenching his thirst he collected water for his family and started to walk back.
On the way back, he happened to see a group of thirsty people. Upon their request, he gave them the water he collected to quench their thirst. Since the water was over he went back to collect water again.
While returning he happened to see another group of thirsty people. He felt pity for them, gave them the water and went to fetch water again. This continued time and time again. His anxious family sent the monk in search of him.
The monk met the man while he was serving water to some travelers. The puzzled monk asked him what he was doing there while his family was waiting for water. He told that he felt compassionate towards these thirsty people, and gave them the water he had fetched.
The monk asked him, “What merit do you get by helping others while your wife and children die of thirst?” He told the monk, "I felt sympathy for those people, and I served them water.”
The monk told him, “Instead of serving them water, why don’t you do as I have directed you? It is not possible for us to satisfy the thirst of all. But we can direct them to the sources where they can be quenched.”
"So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith." Galatians 6:10