Helping as only you can – what a great thought for the holiday’s. Steven Salt’s article in the November 21st InfinityHouseMagazine.com tells the kind of story we all like to hear around the holidays. Though shopping takes center stage in advertising, we would probably agree that the best part of Christmas is seeing the Christ in our fellow man. So the idea of helping as only you can reminds us that we each have unique gifts to share that bring blessings – including happiness and health.
Enjoy the story of Joe’s generosity and be sure to click the link at the end to read the entire story.
Scene: A regular Joe driving home to see his family after a hard day. He comes upon a beat-up, broken-down car along the side of the road. This average guy, named Jim, doesn’t hesitate to stop and see what help he can give to the stranger standing nearby.
The year was 1929. Life was difficult. And it would not get better for a long while. It was a desperate time when daily life for many revolved around one thing: looking for a way to stay alive. It was also a time, interesting enough, when generosity abounded.
Love and its manifestations of giving, kindness, and compassion have long marked the best of human nature. Whatever impels someone to give of himself even when he has little to offer has pulled many individuals through difficult times.
Scientific investigation on the effects of love in our lives has uncovered some interesting findings. The Institute for Research on Unlimited Love, founded at Case Western Reserve University, has been looking into the subject. Part of its mission statement includes answering the question: Does the sincere love of neighbor contribute to the happiness and health of both those who give it and those who receive it?
Check these stats from the 2010 Do Good Live Well Survey, released by United Healthcare and VolunteerMatch:
- 68% of those who volunteered in the last year reported volunteering made them feel physically healthier
- 89% reported “volunteering has improved my sense of well-being”
- 92% agreed that volunteering enriched their sense of purpose in life
Jim didn’t know about this data when he volunteered to help the stranger get his car going. I suspect it was out of a sense of duty and privilege, an unconditional love. The men were of different race and came from different cultures, but Jim only saw a neighbor in need. Turns out the man had a wife and several children with him in the car. They were homeless and looking for work when the car would not go any further.
It would be enough that Jim got the car running that day, but he didn’t stop there.