It is comprised of two separate but equally important words that, when understood can help us begin to decode our own existence.
The two words are Mank and Ind.
If we ever figure out what these words mean, we will understand all of humanity.
-Jack Handy
I have always believed in the basic goodness of all people.
I am constantly reminded of this fact by the small and simple things I see.
Last week I was at Lowe's getting some wire. I was trying to measure it out on the floor, but the wire kept rolling back up and it was taking me a while to get it situated. A man saw me trying to do this and he stopped and held one end of the wire while I measured it out.
What did it cost him? Nothing. Maybe 30 seconds of holding something for me.
I was at Panera with Mer and the boys, and Jackson tipped over his drink and it went everywhere, and before I could get up to get some napkins, a guy at a close table got up and handed us a pile of his napkins.
It was so simple and so kind.
I was headed in to fix a laser, and whenever I do, I have a few cases full of tools, my laptop, a drill case and a box with a part. Its a lot of stuff to try and get inside, but i usually manage it with little difficulty. This particular day I was having a hard day and I kept dropping cases, and my part. It was a long walk and it was cold. Someone saw me in the lot, and came over and picked up my laptop case and my boxed part. it wasn't heavy, and it wasn't hard to carry for this person. He carried it all the way into the site for me, and then asked if I had anything else to get out of the car. I didn't and he left to another business in the building.
It was so great, it made my day. it was so wonderful to have someone stop and lend me a little help.
Because of the experiences like this I have had, I am always on the lookout for someone that might need a hand.
I was driving in a snow storm from Springfield to KC. I saw a car in the median, and pulled over to try and help get the car out. My SUV is only front wheel drive, but I was on the pavement and could get enough grip on the road to pull the car out. I talked with the lady in the car and she was happy to have someone stop to help. I was looking in my car for a tow strap, but it wasnt there, I had left it in the garage. Just then another small pickup pulled over with an older guy, and guess what, he had chains. The two of us hooked up the car and as we were getting ready to pull the car out, another truck stopped to help as well, he hung around until we got the car out.
We all went on our way.
10 miles up the road there was another car in the median. Guess who pulled over?
All 3 of us.
The first car took 20 minutes to get out. The second car took 5. The last car 30 miles later, took the 3 of us less than 5 minutes to get out.
It was amazing. Ill never forget that day.
Sometimes we have friends that do stupid things. The easiest way to deal with it is to just say, I cant deal with it, and cut ties with them.
I have a really hard time doing that. After everything I have been though in my life I believe to the core of my being that everyone should be given as many chances as we can give them.
Along with this, is the idea that we have no right to judge another person. I have made bad decisions, but at the time I thought it was the right thing to do, or I thought I had to do it. This doesn't excuse any of my failures and faults, its just my reason. Everyone has their own reasons for doing what they do, its not often that we know what is in their heart, or why they chose the path they did. But when you take the time to completely understand that person, and understand their life and the decisions that have brought them to that point in their life, then you cant help but love that person the way they love themselves. In that way I can understand how God can judge us, because he understands us completely and loves us.
How many people do you know so well, and so completely that you comprehend their every decision and understand their faults and misdeeds?
How can we judge another person without being inside their head and seeing the world and themselves as they do?
With all that in mind, shouldn't we do everything we can to help another person, give our neighbors, friends and family every chance we can to make themselves what they want to be?
What do you think?
4 comments:
That's a cool story about the snow helping-ness! Sweet.
I think I've heard that mank and ind thing before, did you get it from somewhere?
P.S. I did read the rest and thought about it, but I couldn't think of a response...I agree with you, but had nothing smart to say that would add to the conversation.
What great helping stories. It's so good when things like that happen. I see them happen here when it snows and people get stuck . I tried to help push a guy's truck out of a bank parking lot with my car but I douldn't move it and then another guy and still another each stopped and got out to help. They just walked up to the back of the truck and looked under it to see what could be done as if they were called to do it.
I also agree with your judging part. I'm so glad it's not my responsibility. Something I don't have to worry about. And you know, people usually are just doing the best they can. I'm glad you have come to this realization and know it will serve you well to remember it throughout your life. And, congrats on you and Mer being your lowest weights in a long time!. It is such a struggle!Good for you!!!!
This last summer on my way from STL to Vegas right before the campout I was stupid enough not to fill up the car before hitting that 120 mile stretch of highway on I-
70 between Colorado & Utah with NO gas stations (REALLY, in this day & age it's dumb that there are areas like that). ANYWAYS I didn't see the sign warning me that there would be no gas stations & ran out of gas (did I mention that there's also NO cellphone service in this area). SO there I was, on the side of the road 20 miles for Richfield with my two little kids. FORTUNATELY a tow truck that was already towing a car pulled over (it was one of those tow trucks where they put a car on the bed of the truck). The man who was having his car towed insisted the tow truck driver stop to help. They were able to hook my car up to the back of the tow truck & tow it into Richfield and since there was a car already being towed he didn't even charge me. I was SO glad that they stopped, I later found out that people were having to wait 2 hrs to be picked up & I only waited a couple of minutes.
Thank you to all people who stop to help others!!!
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