"All the beautiful sentiments in the world weigh less than a single lovely action."--James Russell Lowell

Most of us have good intentions.  We wish the best for other people, we want good to triumph over evil, and we believe the world needs more love and less hate.  Such sentiments are beautiful but, unless they are accompanied by actions, they have little value. Too many of us who know what needs to be done to help others tend to wait for somebody else to do it. We just seem to find too many reasons why we are unable to help.

There is no shortage of opportunities to help others.  We can take the time to listen to another's problems. We can send cards and notes of encouragement to people who are going through difficult times. We can visit people who are lonely.  We can offer to provide transportation for those who need it.  And we can lend a helping hand with chores that are too difficult for some people.

We don't have to go around searching for people who need our help. Such people are all around us.  They include our friends and family, our neighbors, and our fellow workers. Sometimes we lose track of the needs of our loved ones.  There is almost always more we can do for our friends and family than we are currently doing.  The old saying, "If everyone swept his own corner, the world would be a clean place," cannot be overemphasized. We can all find plenty to do right in our own corner, and we all know people who need our help.  We often sympathize with such people and wish that somebody would do something for them.  Perhaps that somebody should be us. Couldn't we all do just a little more?  Would it really take that much time?          

It takes more than good intentions to make this a better world. It takes actions.  Some people spend their entire lives helping others.  It simply becomes a way of life for them.  Others of us always plan to start doing more for other people "just as soon as we have the time," but somehow we never seem to find the time.  We continue to have good sentiments and we wish others well, and we hope that somebody else will come along to provide the help that is needed. But we just don't seem to have the time to get involved ourselves.  What if all of us who are in that category would wake up some morning with a changed attitude?  What if we all decided to actually do something for others? Suppose we decided to put our good intentions into action. Would the world ever be the same again? 

Copyright 2014 Allen Smith

NOTE: Comments are welcome and encouraged.

TB-74—Posted 06/12/2014