In Praise of Helpful People

I'm sitting in my office, and I realize the difference it makes when you encounter a truly helpful person.

Helpful people inspire me; it's like they actually enjoy serving others.  Sometimes, I'm just overwhelmed that someone would be so helpful, especially when it brings no obvious or immediate benefit to them.

This week, so many people went out of their way to help me:  friends babysitting my children for free, coworkers making my photocopies or delivering books when they didn't have to, a technician installing speakers on my computer so I could enjoy music in my office, or neighbors lending a car when our minivan broke down.  Just this very moment, a coworker sent me an encouraging note after a very discouraging meeting.  Each day, whenever I needed help, help arrived. 

What if we were all just. . . helpful?  I wonder who needs some help today.  I want to be the one who arrives on the scene.

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Journal:  Aren't you so thankful for helpful people? 

Lesson from Neighborhood Boy in 100 Words

We can't find the mountain trail for our evening hike. 

Some kids pass by. One calls out:   "You looking for something?"  We describe the trail.   He nods.   "Follow me.  I can show you."

He delivers us to our destination.  He mentions different paths to avoid and various landmarks to spot. Then he returns to his friends. He didn't have to help.  There was no reward for him.  He was just helpful.  

The boy had flair.  Would I have done that for somebody? 

I thought about who might be lost and needs me to say, "Follow me. I can show you."