Helping Others Cheerfully

"When there are opportunities to help others, do so with a cheerful heart. In doing so, goodness will fill your heart and mind and others will see it within you." -Joe Primm

The words and advice flow easily but can be difficult to employ. Each of us are faced with these opportunities and I am no exception. We struggle with trying to understand what is the right thing to do.

The idea of helping others has been around since the beginning of time. Humans have always looked for and found ways to help each other. Former U.S. President John F. Kennedy said "if a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich." But I'm not talking about welfare and government assistance. I am referring to what you as an individual can do. It isn't even just about money or the poor, its about all types of assistance to others under all conditions.

The government, the church and other well meaning organizations are out there to help people. Most of them do very good work, but the individual helping another is the most personal. I am no different in that I wonder just how far individual kindness can be taken. Some times though you have to simply go forward with the opportunity to assist someone in need.

People encounter at times in their life a loss of direction and ability. Their need is something to help them past the darkness of the situation. Albert Schweitzer is quoted saying that, "in every one's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit."

So search inside yourself, figure out what the right thing to do is for the situation and do so with a cheerful heart. Consider what your need might be one day and know their are others with cheerful hearts.