O.T. Generosity.

I just received a phone call from the local German Shepard breeder of 40+ years. This gentleman gave us so much great information as we visited with him for over 6 hrs. Come to find out he asked what we did for a living, I responded we're in business of piano tuning and restoring. He got up from the table and asked me to come see something. That was after I told him I was a jazz pianist. In the corner of his living room stood a 7 ft Steinway. Because of my physical stature, looking like a wrestler,more than a piano player, he thought I was full of it.Managed to hobble over and set down on the bench and played for him. He couldn't get over it.I told him my departed friend described my hands as boxing gloves with bananas attached. By the way he plays good music on his B-3 Hammond organ,we played a little duet together.Sounded real great. He wants to get together for a jam session which I agreed to. Came back home and packaged my CD of several tunes that I played years ago on the Roland.

Today I get a phone call from him, which consisted of his generous offer of another German Shepherd. That type of generosity is overwhelming to us. We just can't accept that, but I sure don't want to appear to throw it back in his face. Going tomorrow and try to explain that his friendship to us exceeds his offer.I just can't accept that type of offer,it just doesn't set right to us.

Years back I had a musical friend that offered to pay for a roof on our new garage we was building, thru a loan from him. I told him No, because if something were to happen I couldn't repay him,the friendship would be in jeopardy and lost. We had the money coming within the week from a unit we had rebuilt.The friendship was saved and lasted until his death. I do not want to jeopardize this new friendship by accepting his most overwhelming generous offer of one of his kennel puppies.

As I said we went over to see him on the basis of some needed information on his health treatment of the German Shepherd dogs, as I said he's been doing it over 40+ years,so figured he should know from his past and present experiences with them.

Now my question to you folks, who have shown me generosity thru your posts and answers to questions we posed in the past is.

How do we try to explain this to him,without hurting his feelings,and losing a new friendship?

As you folks can imagine, all the vet bills took everything we had reserved right now to absolute nothing. We don't regret the expenditures as it was our obligation to bring the best to our friend. Now tomorrow, we're going over and try to explain how much our new friendship to him means, and truly appreciate his offer he gave us.
There is no doubt he is independently wealthy,but that has nothing to do with our friendship.I mentioned this in passing so there is no doubt that friendship rises above any monetary existence with us.

I just don't wish to explain this wrong to him,and have it sound like a slap in his face,for his kind gesture. That's why we are writing here for some much needed kind input. To help us explain this to him. We will in time ask his assistance in finding us another pal like Chino, but we need to pay for this service so that there is no imposition on our friendship with him. He loves dogs and music, I love dogs and music, there is where the bond has formed this new friendship. So you can see we are asking suggestions on how to frame our upcoming conversation with him. I would appreciate your input. With warmest regards,
LOU

P.S. he has a nice 1086 IH in his shed,so this is sorta tractor related.lol.

Lou, I was raised to Pay my Way too. I too was raised by a mother that had a Studio Grand Piano in our home, Mom played every day at some point in it!. You have made a connection in some way that this fellow never dreamed of,or you appreciation of, and ability to play a piano.... You made his old Steinway sing!... a big Buruley Fellow with big hands and fingers! He never saw That coming!
OK back to your question,....And my Mom and Dad taught me......Tell him You just don't fell right accepting this most gracious gift without paying. (His Friendship is worth far more to you)then Offer to pay "Something" Hold Cash, check book, If he turns that down. Then Accept the gift as graciously as you can, Perhaps you can help Him out with a good or service you can provide!
To Reject the Gift would be a mistake, a simple gift from him allows you to come up with a nice gift for him at sometime down the Road!
My thoughts,hope this helps
Later,
John A.

I think you have to keep in mind how you feel when you try to help others. You insist on buying dinner and the recipient puts up a huge fuss, kinda hurts your feelings.
Sometimes the best is simply to say..."thank you, your friendship is valued"

You have explained it to us very well. So just print out your post and give it to him. TDF

Accept his gift and tell him how much you appreciate it. He respect you and want to be your friend. That is "pay" enough for him Not everything in life is about money. In the future "pay" him back somehow, or better yet, do something nice, or help out a young person in need. T

agree with the other posts too BUT - put yourself in his shoes. Not only is there the friendship thing, but as an animal lover he is concerned about who gets his dogs and how they will be treated. He obvisouly thinks that you will take good care of the pup, and that is important to him and further compliment to you.

Lou, accepting this GIFT from him is the right thing to do! He's not giving you a "loan" that he wants repaid back. His offer is telling you something about yourself.......don't be blind and stubborn over this.

Having a "new" buddy is NOT turning your back on your old pal.

I agree with the posts that have already been made, but the one that sums it up in my mind was the first one made by Larry. Sometimes it is best to just thankfully and humbly accept the kind gift. When opportunity lends itself for you to do something for someone in the future, do it in honor of what your friend did for you.

He knows how well you take care of your pets... And he wants you to have one of his puppies. I used to raise Labrador Retrievers. If I knew of someone like you, that takes such good care of their pets, I would have given you one of mine as well. Knowing they are going to such a great home out weighs, by far, any cost that I might be losing. Numerous times I cringed when selling a puppy because I knew in my heart that, even though they had the money, they had no business owning a pet. I would say accept his gift. Say thank you.

Disclaimer: This advice is worth exactly what you paid for it...

P.S. But..... If owning one of his dogs is going to put a financial burden on you, then you'll just have to say as much and say you're sorry that you cannot accept his offer at this time...

HI, Lou. Let me approach this from the other side as a companion animal "producer".

We raise llamas. You might not know that they are, although not rare, uncommon and are a gentle and reasonably intelligent and trainable animal. It takes 350 days, and often more, for a mother to produce one. So each one is special, so much so we've quit selling them as we can't seem to part with them. I would rather give one to someone that would love and give them a good home than I would sell one for a big price to a place that will treat them like just some other livestock. We have from time to time given one to someone that provided such a home, hard as it was to do it.

I think your new friend is like this, he senses your goodness and wants you to have one of his special friends. This might be his way of giving back to people that have shown friendship to him. You might have already given him a gift of your company and friendship and some pleasure with your piano skills. Don't be too proud to accept his gift. If you do, be sure to let him know from time to time how the pup is doing and even take it over to see him on occasion.

M Nut sums it all up in a few words.. When a friend offers you something, especially something he really cares about, accpt it humbly and some day return the favor to him or someone else in his name, Greatest honor you can give a friend

Take the dog if you can afford to keep it. Be aware it will probably have hip problems later in life.

I used to train bird dogs professionally. A lady friend of mine showed a few of them at bench. We did a lot of field trials. Then I started breeding a few litters. In every litter there were several superstars, more average specimens, and then A couple of what we would refer to as "pet quality". Wonderful, laid back pups with conformation that would not qualify in the field or in a show ring but would make the best pets.
It is likely your new friend has several of these and is LOOKING for the right home for them.
Take the pup and give it lots of love. You are actually doing HIM a favor.

W.B. Thank you for your kind response and thanks to all for their kindness in responding.When a gesture in this magnitude is offered by my new found friend. IT BREAKS MY HEART.!!!!Any animal thats kind in heart and love for it's care giver wins my love and affection. ON craigs list, we see horses 15 years old offered to a good home tells me a lot about the owner. What I read between the lines of such adds is. "I have a horse thats old and becoming a financial burden so we would like to pass on this problem on to you rather then keep it till it's time has come to leave this world.That may or may not be the case, but thats whats in my heart.
Yes we know of farms that raise Llamas and although we never stopped in to get close touch, I think they are another of Gods beautiful souls. Your past gifts to others is definitely s gift to be cherished, and I thank you for your kindness. Thanks for your post . with warmest regards LOU, Victor and family.

Gordo Thanks for you insight and reply. We are going over to his home sometime today, that is if he can spare the time. . Thanks again . Most warmest regards to you and all the other posters to my request for help. LOU,Victor and Family.

We truly appreciate your reply, as we do with all the others. hard to hold back the tears!.Your kind replys gives me thoughts to reflect on. Warmest regards to you. LOU Victor and Family.

Chip,
Thank you for your reply. It truly is worth something to us.I'm sure he feels that we are good pet owners,but what he wants to do is worth more than words can express. Transferring a soul to another takes courage beyond recognition and words.We truly appreciate the gesture,but what he is doing is over the top of any kind of gift we were prepared for. All that was asked from him was some helpful information and when the time was right to help us locate one from him or maybe an outside area he trusted, for a price.
It maybe just a kind gesture from him,but to us it is unfathomable.We're just trying to understand this gigantic offer,and it is not taken lightly.A lot of the replies help us,and are truly appreciated.For that I thank all of you for taking your time to answer our dilemma.
All have kind hearts,and it's a pleasure to know you,even by computer.
Warmest regards,
LOU,Victor & Family.

Randall,
your reply is shared by oher poster here. Wisdom is shared here, that is why we asked.We truly appreciate all the helpful,kind replies. I hope we can make him understand what we feel and do so without losing his new friendship.We are going for another visit when he has the time.Looking forward to the visit. Thanks agaim. With warmest regards ,LOU Victor & Family.

CONGRATS! LOU- You will be coming home with a new pup. ML

I've been following your story and you are a very loving and kind person. I've always found that people who are kind to animals are also kind to people and I suspect this person sees this in you and wants to help out. I think you have found another great friend in him. btw, you can post a video or two of your playing on youtube and share them with us. I've been playing since about 7 years old and always enjoyed playing in church etc. Don't play much anymore as I had to get a titanium plate in my neck and still have trouble with it so left hand doesn't work as good as it should anymore.

Lou,
You are a lucky man. My Amish friends that I did favors for and they would return favors tried to keep the exchange of money to a minimum. When I would need something like wood, roofing, drywall etc, (small quantities) there was never any discussion about price, they would just say "it"s yours",and that was that, no more conversation or you might offend them. So that"s the way I would handle it, take the gift and thank him.
My daughter has a cat that got it"s tail caught in the door it got infected and raw down to the bone. She took it to a vet in Milwaukee, charged her $250 to look at it and give the cat a shot, told her the tail would have to be removed and that would be another $1000, thats right another thousand dollars. I talked to our local vet Doc, he said he would do it for $100. She took a day off of work drove the 125 mi to Clintonville, stayed overnite and drove back home with a well cat and money in her pocket. People are great but some can only see money, (Milw Vet) can you imagine $1250 to cut off a cat"s tail?
Good luck.
Good friends are hard to find.
Bob

By not accepting the gift, you are robbing him of the blessings received from giving.