The Greatest Gift

When we hear of a crisis…one that is close by about someone we love, or one that is halfway across the world…we sometimes ask ourselves “How can I help?”. It is a common human reaction. We feel compassion, we are moved in our heart, we want to make it better. We might even pause and think about how I, with the talents I have, how could I help?

Sometimes we decide to send money, cook a meal or send a card. Sometimes we may work tirelessly offering our time in support of a non-profit with worthy goals of educating, feeding, healing and comforting those in need. We feel sorrow for the ‘other’…their condition, situation, diagnosis, heartache. We want it to be fixed. We think about their struggle, how difficult life is, the immense sadness of it all. We may talk about it to other people…in all the unhappy detail. Sometimes we become sad ourselves. “Can I ever make a difference?”

If we really want to help people and make a difference we will need to consider a different approach. Author Karen Williams says this…

I am not helpful to others when I view them as broken and focus on their problems. I am not helpful when I sympathize with people and share in their anger and blame. I am not helpful when I give heavy-handed advice about what someone is doing wrong.

So how are we most helpful? Karen gives us the answer:

The greatest gift I can give to anyone, anytime, anywhere is to envision that person (those people, mankind) as happy and thriving. My thoughts are more powerful that I realize, and when I consistently view another person living the life that he or she wants, I help that person move in that direction.

You see, our greatest and most powerful work is to see in our mind and feel in our heart all possibilities for whoever it is that comes into our awareness. This is true prayer.

Pray often.

Peace always

Paula