Ever feel compelled to do something nice for someone?
During this time of year, it’s common to want to help our fellow-man. It is a season for giving and thinking of others. The holiday has a way of bringing out the best in all of us.
Pay attention to what is going on around you each day. You will almost always encounter a good deed taking place. It might be someone holding the door open for you or someone else. Perhaps it will be allowing a person to take the parking spot that you wanted.
When was the last time that you had a feel-good moment?
Recently, I had one of those moments. During the day when I’m at work I like to pick up a coffee at a local place nearby. It just so happens that there is an elderly gentleman that is always sitting in front of the post office on my way.
You will find him in the same old spot sitting in his wheelchair. Always with a pile of newspapers on his lap too. He tells me to have a blessed day each time that I walk by. Not once has he ever asked me for money.
You can tell when a person is giving you a genuine hello. One day I decided that I wanted to bless this older man.
What could I possibly give him?
I remembered I had a fairly new book that I hadn’t read yet called Fresh Start by Joel Osteen. I also gathered some flavored sugar-free creamer and splenda for him. I wrote a nice message in the inside of the book and also filled out a pretty Christmas card.
During my break I walked by him and he wished me a blessed day again. I smiled even bigger that day. I picked up a coffee for him and walked back to him.
I introduced myself and thanked him for always being so kind to me. I told him that I wanted to bless him back by giving him a gift. He opened the bag and took out the book.
He said that he watched Joel Osteen on television. I remember that day being cold and how glad that I was able to give him a hot cup of coffee. Small talk often leads to interesting information.
I no longer had to think of him as the elderly gentleman in front of the post office. His name was Pete and he told me that he had been selling newspapers for fifty-three years. Wow!
Have you ever held the same job for that long?
To me I found that honorable and impressive. He spoke with a lot of pride when he said that. If you looked at Pete he didn’t really appear to have much. However if you spoke with him the way that I did you would find out that he is rich.
Rich in a different kind of way. He was grateful for having had that opportunity of selling newspapers for so long. Also in his daily conversation with people in general.
It was a pleasure doing something so nice for this guy. I told him that I’m usually in a rush to pick up my coffee and get back to work. That although I had my ear buds in my ears I always heard him.
That is because I remember to turn down the volume of my music as I get closer to him. My momma taught me good manners. No reason to let her down now.
What did I learn from this encounter?
That humanity is still going strong. There are people who care. There are others that don’t and choose not to do good deeds.
However the good people always win because they continue to be a blessing to others. It doesn’t matter what their income bracket is or if they have a fancy title either.
It all boils down to remembering to do the right thing because you want to. You remember to hold yourself to a higher standard of living.
That standard being one of integrity, honesty and bestowing continued blessings everywhere that you go. No matter how small the gesture. The gesture may be small, but the overall return on that gesture will always be bigger.
Isn’t that worth doing then?
Ask Lucy:
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