I've seen and met angels wearing the disguise of ordinary people living ordinary lives. ~ Tracy Chapman
I think that, deep down, we all have noble intentions. We watch the current disasters on the news and think, "If I was there, I'd do that. Or that. I'd help make a difference."
That's very commendable.
But what about the every day small things that come across our paths? When you see a young mom struggling to get her groceries in her car while juggling a baby in her arms with a toddler trying to dash out into traffic...do you step up and offer a helping hand? When you're standing in line at the grocery store and someone doesn't have quite enough money to pay for everything...do you step in and pay the difference, especially if it's a mom with kids or an elderly person? On a hot day, do you offer the mail person a bottle of cold water as they deliver your mail? As you walk down the aisle at the grocery store and you spot a disabled person in a motorized cart, do you ask them if there's anything you can get off a higher shelf they can't quite reach? Do you see someone alone in a restaurant and quietly pay for their meal? Do you reach out and open a door for someone, or hold on to it as you pass through so it doesn't slam shut on the person behind you?
These are the things that cost nothing for us to do but are priceless to those who we reach out to help. It seems like human kindness is becoming more and more of a lost commodity in our daily lives. Isn't that a sad statement? It really disturbs me to see what a downhill slide our society is on. Respect for our elders is still alive and well here in the Upper Midwest but there are parts of the country where our older folks are treated as if they're invisible by our youth. I know, because that's the way it was out West. Thankfully, good manners are still taught to the kids in Michigan and when a child reaches out to hold a door for me I feel very blessed by their good deed. The lovely thing about doing good deeds for others is how good it makes you feel, doing it.
Please. Thank you. No, thank you. You're welcome. Yes, Ma'm. No, sir. Can I do/hold/get that for you? When did kindness shown to us begin to be something we feel entitled to, and not something we feel we need to do for others in return? How did we become so selfish?
The older I get, the more mystified I am by the way our youth is being raised. If human decency is left out of their upbringing more and more with each generation, what is it going to be like when it truly is a "Me! Me! Me!" world? It's getting there...right around the corner with the speed things are taking place and changing.
Well, really...the more we get absorbed in our technology the more isolated we become. I guess one of these days we really will be a "push button" world and will be too absorbed in our gadgets to even notice those in need around us.
That's very commendable.
But what about the every day small things that come across our paths? When you see a young mom struggling to get her groceries in her car while juggling a baby in her arms with a toddler trying to dash out into traffic...do you step up and offer a helping hand? When you're standing in line at the grocery store and someone doesn't have quite enough money to pay for everything...do you step in and pay the difference, especially if it's a mom with kids or an elderly person? On a hot day, do you offer the mail person a bottle of cold water as they deliver your mail? As you walk down the aisle at the grocery store and you spot a disabled person in a motorized cart, do you ask them if there's anything you can get off a higher shelf they can't quite reach? Do you see someone alone in a restaurant and quietly pay for their meal? Do you reach out and open a door for someone, or hold on to it as you pass through so it doesn't slam shut on the person behind you?
These are the things that cost nothing for us to do but are priceless to those who we reach out to help. It seems like human kindness is becoming more and more of a lost commodity in our daily lives. Isn't that a sad statement? It really disturbs me to see what a downhill slide our society is on. Respect for our elders is still alive and well here in the Upper Midwest but there are parts of the country where our older folks are treated as if they're invisible by our youth. I know, because that's the way it was out West. Thankfully, good manners are still taught to the kids in Michigan and when a child reaches out to hold a door for me I feel very blessed by their good deed. The lovely thing about doing good deeds for others is how good it makes you feel, doing it.
Please. Thank you. No, thank you. You're welcome. Yes, Ma'm. No, sir. Can I do/hold/get that for you? When did kindness shown to us begin to be something we feel entitled to, and not something we feel we need to do for others in return? How did we become so selfish?
The older I get, the more mystified I am by the way our youth is being raised. If human decency is left out of their upbringing more and more with each generation, what is it going to be like when it truly is a "Me! Me! Me!" world? It's getting there...right around the corner with the speed things are taking place and changing.
Well, really...the more we get absorbed in our technology the more isolated we become. I guess one of these days we really will be a "push button" world and will be too absorbed in our gadgets to even notice those in need around us.
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