Your Good Deeds for the Day!
By Dr. Synesio Lyra, Jr.
We often hear some people exclaim, “This was my good deed for the day” after they fulfill an act of charity, or do something else which specifically helps someone. It is good and admirable that many individuals are interested in doing anything for others whenever they can.
Nevertheless, no one should be satisfied with just one good deed for the day if additional opportunities present themselves. Wherever we are, if we are observant, we can readily encounter several more chances to do something which may change another life for good, albeit a small act on our part.
Many persons very quickly limit themselves to something that satisfies their own ego, that bring them a sense of personal pride, an action which was appreciated by its recipient, and often by others who noticed the occurrence. And that’s partly okay, but it’s not enough!
What I’m trying to convey here is that as good and significant as one good deed always is, let us not be satisfied with just that, especially when we are perpetually surrounded by countless other opportunities of doing good for our fellow humans in multiple situations!
Normally, these things don’t cost us anything while they make an enormous, positive difference in another life. The trouble is that too many people just think of themselves and hardly notice what is happening round about them. They also fail to realize that when they help others some, they are helping their own selves even more!
Furthermore, as valuable as one single act which aids another human is, no one should stop there. Keep on spreading your good cheer, your good will toward others. A friend of mine many years ago coined the phrase, “the secret of success us to find a need and fill it; to find a hurt and heal it.” And with that attitude he surveyed an entire section of southern California, and on the basis of his findings, developed a major institution which for so many years fulfilled those noble purposes, impacting multitudes!
If you have an umbrella, in a rainy day you can help someone without one to reach her car in a parking lot to which you’re also headed; if you notice a waitress downcast while carrying on her high pressure labors, you can offer a word of cheer and, thus, encourage her; if a neighbor is incapacitated in any way, you can offer to do something within your limitations but which can be fully valid to that person or family; in the loss of a loved one, you can convey your condolences to co-workers, friends near or far, and neighbors. Of course, you get the point. Just keep your physical eyes and the sight of your heart focused on what surrounds you, anywhere, anytime, and you shall have no trouble in finding more than just one good deed for the day – any day!
