Tuesday; October 16

Most of us are interested in making a difference.  The good people I know actively look for and take part in doing good deeds for those around them.  While we like making a difference, there are times when it can be discouraging.  To help us from becoming disheartened here are a few simple suggestions:
1)  Remember that what we are doing is for the good of others, not for the publicity we receive.  Even though we don’t do good to be praised by men, it is nice to have our efforts noticed and recognized.  A good way to avoid disappointment is to make the decision before we get started not to seek or expect publicity.
2)  Remember that what we are doing is for the good of others, not for the thanks we receive.  This may sound similar to the first point, but I believe that this is an even more likely trap.  Some people might not know how to say “thank you” and others may not have the social skills to express their appreciation.  Let’s just offer our help whether we receive their gratitude or not.
3)  Don’t count the number of participants.  When we try to help others, it is tempting to gauge our success by the number of people we reach.  The truth of the matter is that even if we only touch one person, we have done what we set out to do.
4)  Don’t tally the amount of money spent.  Outreach and service is the truest “non-profit” effort.  If we are worried about how much money it will take or if it really is worth our financial investment then it will probably cost too much for the results we get.  Only when we are willing to “lose money on the deal” will we be able to enjoy it for what it really is – our gift to them.
          I hope everyone has a heart of service.  Thank you for what you do and remember that giving and service is a focus on others, not on ourselves.
Think About It!

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday; November 29

The biblical story of the Good Samaritan has changed our world. Notice I didn’t say that it had change religion or even Christianity, it has influenced the world. There are very few people who don’t know the moral of Jesus’ parable about the Good Samaritan. In fact, the phrase has become a common description of everyday people doing good to their neighbors. While Jesus’ parable from Luke 10 shares several spiritual lessons, one of the most practical is that good can be done by anyone. You don’t have to be a church official to do good, it is not only possible for each one of us to help, it is required of all of us. If a Samaritan can be good, so can we! After presenting the parable, Jesus asked the man who had originally asked the question about being a good neighbor which character in the story was a good neighbor, “… he said, ‘The one who showed mercy toward him.’” at which point, the discussion from theoretical to personal, “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do the same.’” (Luke
Read more

Thursday; January 12

The other day I was watching a television show that used a rather common term applied to overcoming challenges. When organizations experience unexpected setbacks – especially when they lose key people – they rely upon the concept of “Next Man Up”. In essence, when our starters (or stars) go down, effective organizations rely upon their next levels to step into the vacancy. While this is an effective response, have we given much thought as to how we prepare to be the “next people up”? First, we must know our job. Even when we aren’t the primary players, we need to be preparing ourselves to be ready when we get the opportunity to shine. Second, we must do our best when we get the chance. Knowledge is important but what turns potential into talent is effort. Yet, maybe the most underappreciated aspect of this concept is a willingness avoid excuse-making and whining about the unfairness of our situation. When we complain about the circumstances that caused the need for replacements
Read more

Monday; September 25

When I was a youngster, I remember hearing about this thing called the Generation Gap. I was a little bit too young to be active in the social movements of the 1960s, but I do remember listening to the challenges the generations were experiencing way back then. Interestingly, now that I have been on both sides of the aging process, I have to admit that the Gap of the 1960s was nothing new. With the development of each generation comes conflict. The young people don’t feel like the older people understand them and the older folks tend to believe their input is being underappreciated. Too often trust is the casualty when two generations collide. The sad thing is that it doesn’t have to be this way. When we can capture the innovation and energy of the younger folks and harness the wisdom of those who have been around for a while we can develop a winning combination. No, we won’t always see things eye-to-eye nor will we necessarily speak the same emotional language, but when we app
Read more