How May I Serve?

This is my question of the day. What if you turn your focus to your fellow man and ask this question of them throughout your day. How may I serve? What can I do to make the experience of my fellow person here on earth a little bit better. How can I help the people on this earth today? These are the types of questions I would like you to go forward with as you go about your day. This is how I plan on going forward today.

Most of us think in terms of large, volunteering to go on missionary expeditions to Africa, type service when we think of serving mankind. But what I'm talking about is simply living day to day with the idea in our minds that we must serve the people we encounter in some fashion, that our eyes and our hearts be open to their needs and that we operate from a place of thoughtfulness and giving.

I'm going to give a small example. I may have written this before, so please forgive me if I'm repeating myself, but I remember a day at the grocery store in town when an elderly couple were walking across the street with a case of pop.

The box tore open and the cans were scattered everywhere, even breaking one, rolling around in different directions. They were trying to pick them up, gather them, put them back in the box and it tore some more.

They were having quite a struggle and remember, they were elderly. I carried my three year old to the car, all the while thinking, what can I do to help. I put her in her carseat, asked my oldest to watch her and grabbed a plastic grocery bag from the car and went to help them. I told them I had seen what had happened and would they like a bag for the cans.

They accepted gratefully and I helped them pick them up. Things were collected in seconds and they thanked me and we went our seperate ways. A simple little thing to do. I could have driven off and let them fend for themselves, they would have eventually gotten things together but instead I chose to help.

They were happy, I felt nice inside and the biggest benefit was that my children watched from the car and were able to see how we should treat our fellow human being. I do these sorts of thing, not for pats on the back, not for recognition and certainly not because I'm hoping one day that I don't get tossed into the fiery pits of hell(because I actually don't hold that as part of my belief system) but because it's what we as humans are supposed to do for each other. These things should probably also be done quietly which is why it feels a bit strange to me to talk about the incident above. If I didn't need an example to make my point I'd tell no one.

We are supposed to help and support each other so that each of us can reach and fulfill our highest purpose. I know when I'm the recipient of those sorts of things I feel a renewal in my faith in human nature and the need to pay it ahead to the people around me.

Being in service isn't about big gestures, it's about living a life of kindness, living with a giving nature, and facing every day with that in mind. If you have any sort of problem today in your life that is causing you stress, the number one thing I would advise you to do is to help another human in some small way, pick up the phone and call, visit a sick friend, hold the door for someone or simply ask "How may I serve?". Your problems won't suddenly vanish but you'll be pleasantly surprised at how small your problems suddenly appear from the perspective of giving.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I love this. I truly believe that it is the little things that make the biggest impact on people - helping someone pick up pop cans on the street, offering to pay for someones bus ride, SMILING at people, acknowledging homeless people...little things that have HUGE impact.
Thoughtful post Breeze. I like it!
nollyposh said…
~Beautiful~ post and something i believe implicitly in... and i love the little picture it left in my mind... these little *moments* should be shared and are the beautiful fodder that makes up BloggyWorld x
Unknown said…
how can i serve ?
beautiful becasue we all can, one way or another xx
Cheryl said…
Breeze, so glad you raised the subject. How quickly I learned that when I pass someone in the street and smile it instantly improves my day also.
I believe that we are here to live a life of service. You are so right in acknowledging that it does not have to be the 'biggies'
Seems to me that you are serving by sharing your writing.
So glad that I happened upon it..
Being in service isn't about big gestures, it's about living a life of kindness, living with a giving nature, and facing every day with that in mind. If you have any sort of problem today in your life that is causing you stress, the number one thing I would advise you to do is to help another human in some small way, pick up the phone and call, visit a sick friend, hold the door for someone or simply ask "How may I serve?". Your problems won't suddenly vanish but you'll be pleasantly surprised at how small your problems suddenly appear from the perspective of giving.

If we give in little matters, we will most likely give and serve in the bigger matters.
If ever you get the chance, read the inspiring story of the heroine Irena Sendler. It's such as her that the world survives and is enriched.
Edward..I'm familiar with the story although I haven't read the book. I think I'll write about her here someday. And I'm thinking she was, before the opportunity to make a big difference, the type of person who made little gestures as well.