Today the church Relief Society Meeting (the women’s auxiliary) covered the topic of charity. They meant “charity” as in the pure love of Christ and love for all people rather than “charity” as in people who ask for donations. It was a very good meeting where the teacher guided the discussion, but most of the input was provided by people sitting in the class. It hit close to home because three different times this past week I happened to be in a position where I could do a small, simple thing that made a huge difference to someone else. Those experiences and the lesson today have me thinking about how often simple things make the biggest difference. I need to be doing more of those simple things. Things like taking time to tell someone when I admire their clothing or hairstyle. Or calling a friend when I think of them. Or sending digital photos of my kids to my parents via email. Or being pleasant to the clerk at the grocery store.
All these small things cost me only a little bit of effort, but they can be huge to a person whose day needs brightening. I’ve spent the past year very busy. I’ve been very absorbed with family and business things. As we approach the end of the school year, things are slowing down a little. I need to take some of that newfound mental space and use it to benefit others. My life is still fairly busy and it will get even busier as the launch of the next schlock book approaches. But the small effort put into lifting someone else’s spirits, lifts my spirits as well. I need to remember that.
Not only do those little acts cost you very little effort (and almost never cost you anything else), they are the things that I think does everyone the most good. It’s an immedeate response to the act I think that does it. The big things don’t ever seem to have a pay-off, if you know what I mean. The little things, you get to see the smile they bring.
It’s a one-on-one act of kindness that lifts both parties…
I think it’s pretty neat that the smallest things make us – and others – feel the best.
Not only do those little acts cost you very little effort (and almost never cost you anything else), they are the things that I think does everyone the most good. It’s an immedeate response to the act I think that does it. The big things don’t ever seem to have a pay-off, if you know what I mean. The little things, you get to see the smile they bring.
It’s a one-on-one act of kindness that lifts both parties…
I think it’s pretty neat that the smallest things make us – and others – feel the best.
I’ve noticed that. I’ve made the mistake of callously chucking money in a begger’s direction while I was rushing, and realized that unless I’m doing it with love, charity may not be kind, or good, and it can be really dehumanizing to both of us.
On the other hand, the basics of just caring about people are pretty easy. I try to do it most of the time, and find succeeding does leave me much happier. It can also grease the wheels a lot in dealing with people, and makes work MUCH easier.
I’ve noticed that. I’ve made the mistake of callously chucking money in a begger’s direction while I was rushing, and realized that unless I’m doing it with love, charity may not be kind, or good, and it can be really dehumanizing to both of us.
On the other hand, the basics of just caring about people are pretty easy. I try to do it most of the time, and find succeeding does leave me much happier. It can also grease the wheels a lot in dealing with people, and makes work MUCH easier.
I’ve seen a small church made movie and NOW a commercial on t.v. showing a small act of kindness ripple effect through a bunch of people and then it ends up helping the person who started it (or their wife).
My favorite is the t.v. commercial that shows people who only SEE someone doing something nice for someone else that inspires them to do something nice which another person only SEES and then they do something nice…
I LOVE Kindness Ripple Effects!
Let’s all start some KREs! 🙂
I’ve seen a small church made movie and NOW a commercial on t.v. showing a small act of kindness ripple effect through a bunch of people and then it ends up helping the person who started it (or their wife).
My favorite is the t.v. commercial that shows people who only SEE someone doing something nice for someone else that inspires them to do something nice which another person only SEES and then they do something nice…
I LOVE Kindness Ripple Effects!
Let’s all start some KREs! 🙂
Small kindnesses are wonderful things, and everyone should try to do more of them when they can.
That said, I feel I should bring an outsider’s perspective to the question of charity. Being Jewish, there’s a slightly different attitude towards charity than I think is found in Christianity — the idea that charity is the right and *just* thing to do, to help those who need it out. Perhaps I’m underinformed about Christian attitudes towards charity, and if so, I’ll gladly apologise.
The reason I bring it up, though, is a very famous (to Jews) passage by the medieval sage Maimonides discussing levels of charity where he writes:
I remember reading that in my 8th grade religious studies class, and it’s stuck with me ever since.
D
Small kindnesses are wonderful things, and everyone should try to do more of them when they can.
That said, I feel I should bring an outsider’s perspective to the question of charity. Being Jewish, there’s a slightly different attitude towards charity than I think is found in Christianity — the idea that charity is the right and *just* thing to do, to help those who need it out. Perhaps I’m underinformed about Christian attitudes towards charity, and if so, I’ll gladly apologise.
The reason I bring it up, though, is a very famous (to Jews) passage by the medieval sage Maimonides discussing levels of charity where he writes:
I remember reading that in my 8th grade religious studies class, and it’s stuck with me ever since.
D
That is fascinating and wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing!
That is fascinating and wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing!