“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of it for another.”
–Charles Dickens
We are all children of God, and every one of us is important. It matters not our station in life so long as we are serving our fellow human beings in some way. In the eyes of God, we are all equal. The top executive of a large corporation is no better than the person who sweeps the floors where the executive walks so long as both do their jobs to the best of their ability. And the richest person is no more important than the very poorest so long as they are both doing the best they can with what they have to serve God and their fellowmen.
Every day we have many opportunities to lighten the burden for others. Holding a door open for another or allowing a car to enter a lane of heavy traffic ahead of us are just two examples of opportunities that can make a big difference to a person who is having a difficult day. A friendly smile, a compliment and other acts of simple courtesy can also help those who are carrying heavy burdens to just get through the day.
Of course, none of us should be content to do only those things for others that cost us little or nothing. We all need to make a conscious effort to give of our time and other resources to the extent that we can in order to reduce the suffering of those around us. We all have many opportunities to do volunteer work through organized church and civic programs, and we can also take the initiative at times when we see a need that is not being met.
Some people devote a great deal of time throughout their lives to helping others without monetary compensation while other people refuse to do anything for which they do not get paid. People who feel they must receive monetary payment for everything they do apparently don’t realize the great rewards that can come from helping others voluntarily. They fail to understand that one of the greatest sources of satisfaction is giving of oneself for the benefit of others. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Those who are not looking for happiness are most likely to find it, because those who are searching forget that the surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others.”
Some of us have a lot more time and money to give than others. The important thing is to give what we can. If we are doing everything we can to lighten the burdens of our fellow travelers along the journey of life, we are both important and rich. In the words of Giuseppe Mazzini, “They should be first among all who contribute most to the good of all.”
Think about it.
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Copyright 2024
Allen W. Smith
