A little more than a month ago, I was surfing the internet, killing time checking out a few of my lesser visited social media sites when I happened across the hashtag #dogoodrecklessly. The thought intrigued me so I followed the link and read the following experiences.
Obviously, these stories are meaningful and show the best of humanity. After reading this and having time to process and think about it, I got thinking about times when I was blessed by the kindness of strangers and as well, times that I was judgmental and unkind to strangers and I committed myself to be better.
As I continued to contemplate these stories, I found this Joseph Smith quote, which works very neatly with the story shared about the lesson a son learned from his father as shared previously. “Indolent and unworthy the beggar may be – but that is not your concern: it is better to feed ten impostors than to run the risk of turning away one honest petition.” – Joseph Smith
Shortly after this, we left for three weeks of holidays, two of which would be spent visiting Idaho, Washington and Oregon before coming home to Canada to camp with two of my brothers, their wives and a whole slew of kids. As we were preparing to return to Canada, we needed to fuel up for a drive home. As we identified a gas station, we passed a family with a cardboard sign looking for fuel. I hollered out the window to meet me at the gas station and I’d help them out. I filled up their 5 gallon gascan then topped up my own fuel tank. My young kids started questioning why the man needed fuel and pointed out the kids in the family, who were hunkered down in the shade of a sign, each appeared to be playing on a video game. I told them I wasn’t worried about that, and that if I was in a similiar situation, I’d likely still want to give my children something to keep them happy under the circumstance. I told my kids that I had the money and I easily could afford a 5 gallon can of gas for them. After the conversation, we were many miles down the road and I had the thought that I should’ve brought the family into a nearby grocery store and helped them more than a little fuel. Lesson learned and hopefully I’ll be more mindful in the future. “Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” – Marjorie Pay Hinckley
As a general reminder and especially so now with such a divided world, it’s great to remember that we are all people. Each of us are literal sons and daughters of loving Heavenly Parents. Each and every person should receive kindness. It is very much the least that each of us can do for one another. “Everyone, independent of his or her decisions and beliefs, deserves our kindness and consideration.” – Neil L. Andersen
I encourage you to be better and to look for opportunities to serve others. We all need each other. We all need help at some point. We don’t know where others are sitting in their life and whether we are being scammed or not. Our willingness to serve others or rather, our unwillingness, says as much about us as it does those who would attempt to use the charity of others to their benefit. “In your morning prayer each new day, ask Heavenly Father to guide you to recognize an opportunity to serve one of His precious children.”
– M. Russell Ballard
Pray for help to look for opportunities to help. See the need and minister to others. Do Good Recklessly and in short, do as Jesus would do and serve those around you.
~Todd Bruce
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