I was sitting in the lab Friday getting some blood work done and a senior lady was registering at the window. She had rested her cane on the counter top and it fell down to the floor. Everyone saw it fall. Everyone heard it hit the floor. Everyone watched and nobody moved. So I got up from my chair and picked up the cane for her and handed it to her. She said “thank you”. Had I not gotten up, would someone else have? Or would we all have sat there and watched the senior citizen bend down to the floor to get her own cane?
Why is it that sometimes we move like lightening to help others, and sometimes we don’t get off our butts at all? What makes us move? And what makes us stay sitting? Is it determined by the effort needed to complete the deed? Is it determined by the age of the person who needs help or perhaps their disability? Is it determined on our mood that day?
I have been doing a lot of thinking & reading lately and for anyone who has read the bible or is reading it bit by bit , one common lesson is “if you give, you shall receive” and the golden rule “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you “. So that got me to thinking that I really need to be more charitable in my life. Sure I give food to Project share a few times a year, sure I donate to the Canadian Cancer society and to the Canadian Diabetes a few times each year, sure I donate old towels & bedding to the local humane society, sure I made blankets and donated them to a kids camp once…………. but do I really help anyone personally? How do we go about finding people or organizations to help out?
Is the human touch more rewarding than signing a cheque or throwing some non-perishables into a box?
I remember when my Nonna was in the nursing home the last year of her life. I would go visit her every single day and the other clients there started to get used to my daily visits. They got to know me and I got to know them. Such a simple visit can make such a difference in someone’s day. And to be honest, what a special effect those visits had on me. I guess giving does make us feel good.
Helping is natural to us, but I find we aren’t always doing our best at it, are we? We tend to get stuck in our ways, and we become a bit selfish in our actions. Life is busy, none of us can dispute that. Of course our family and home have to come first, I don’t disagree there, but aren’t we so blessed to have families, homes, food in our fridge, fresh air to breath, clean water to drink, clean clothes to wear, our health……maybe we should share some of our time, effort, knowledge, hearts, love and life with others?
What do you do that is charitable?
My friend is a teacher at a very poor school, I help her collect donations of gently used items. (shoes, clothes household items) then she has a "store" where the parents and children come and shop. Everything is priced under $1-2.00 and usually just $.25. I helped her in March sort and organized the store ande with the "customers" It was a real eye opener for sure. I was even able to get Adidas to sponsor the school for 20 pr of brand new shoes for track and field (10 boys and 10 girls) It was very therapeutic cleaning out my house - must have been 4 truck loads and several garbage bags and boxes that went. I was starting to feel like a hoarder! The next store will be in June if you are interested in helping out.
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