Doing What We Know

Regardless of who we are the way we can help others is doing what we know. I sometimes I wondered why people who do certain things in their spare time are the same things they do for a living. For example I have known mechanics work on friend’s cars on the weekend after spending the week working on customer’s car. The main reason is to help their friends who can’t afford to take their cars to a mechanic to fix. In these cases the friend will pay for the parts and they are saved on the labor. That can be quite the savings for sure. Hopefully if you have had a friend do something for you in that manner you will do something for them that you may know.

We all have talents even those that we do not use as part of our occupation. We should help those that can use our talents especially those in need. Some projects can be big as well as small so what we can do is find friends that have the same talents we have and share in the load. Though we can help others over and over again we can’t put them in a position where they feel every time to come to us for help even though we have no problem in helping them. In another way I call that sharing the load.

Some time ago a couple friends of mine and I would help others move whether to another home or a few items to another location. It was very satisfying to help those who had no one to help them. If you know someone that needs help to move or with things around the house take a weekend once a month to help them. This is especially true for single mothers who have no friends to help. I have heard instances though where those who seem to be needy take advantage of others as well. Before helping someone who seems to be in need and ask for a lot of help whether they have family in the area. If they do it would be important speak to a family member that you have concerns for them and why they don’t help out. Of course there are times where certain talents where few people have that an expert has to come to assist otherwise the family should help first.

Another area that people have concerns about are the elderly who no longer can drive. I have that with my mother where I drive her to her appointments, bridge, church and other activities. Often she is able to get a ride back home from the activities and there are friends who are willing to pick her up as well. As her son I feel it is my duty to take her whenever possible however the friends don’t mind do so now and then because they know that I do so most of the time while I have heard of families that seldom take their elderly parent out to an appointment or activity which is really a shame. I am not here to make someone feel guilty but it is a good act. Also if you have the time I recommend doing the same thing for someone who lives nearby as well. This would only be if the family is not close by.

Again whatever we can do for those around us makes us a better person to. We should do as much for our fellow man as possible. Be kind and generous in all that we do.