I am sure we can all remember hearing the familiar quote, “Hello madame. How may I be of service?” This is typically a butler, host, or someone providing a service to someone with more money. It involves providing a service to someone in order to have them spend their money and maybe even put a cash tip in their pockets. But today, that is not the type of service I am talking about. I am talking about being of service to others.
Make Service A Part of Your Life
This is one of the principles I read each day and do my best to live by:
Make service a part of your life. Always do for others.
It’s a pretty simple principle. It simply means you should always do what you can for others. The other person could be a stranger at the grocery store, a friend at your church, or a family member living in your house. Always make an effort to do for others. It could be reaching for something that someone else can’t reach. It could be holding the door open for a stranger who has their hands full. It could also be doing the dishes after your spouse has just prepared you dinner. It’s the little things that really matter!!!
Why Would You Do That?
Why would you want to be of service to others? There are many reasons:
- Make them smile.
- Make their lives easier.
- The joy of doing for someone else.
- Putting positive things out in the world so they will return.
- Gratitude!!!
Something Magical Happens
When you make it a habit to do for others, something magical happens. A feeling grows inside you when you see the happiness and relief you have given to others. There is something special about helping someone else and the way it makes you feel when you have done a good thing. So what if it was only washing the dishes, holding a door open, or taking out the trash. All of those things need to be done. If you can remove that task from someone else’s list, you have done well. You can find the joy in these simple little tasks where others might see them as burdens.
Your Eyes Will Be Opened
When you make doing for others a big part of your life, your eyes will be opened to see how many things others do for you. Things you take for granted and simply expect to be done. How about the cashier that bags your groceries at the grocery store? Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t. That tells me they are not required to do so. So, for the ones who do, they are being of service. How about your spouse who cooks you dinner? That is no small task, but have you come to expect it? Do you thank them for dinner each night? I sure do!!!
By being of service to others, you will be looking for the little things you can do to make someone’s day better. At the same time, you will become more aware of the little things people do for you. Appreciation will grow and fuel your desire to continue being of service. It all comes full circle.
Final Thoughts
The point I am trying to share with you today is that you can find happiness and joy in doing for others. It could be small tasks or big tasks. Regardless of the size, helping out your fellow man is the responsibility of everyone. Sometimes a seemingly small task can make all the difference in the world. When you are of service to others, you will notice others being of service to you. So, go out and do the little things and even some big things for people. It will bring them joy, bring you joy, and at the same time, help you develop a strong character and be a better you. You never know when your one little act of service or kindness can turn someone’s whole world around.
I’ll leave you with this great quote from William Penn:
“I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.”