Thursday, December 16, 2010

Helping Others

It’s great to want to help others, but do they really need or want it? One time when I was in about third grade or so, I was eating lunch with my friends in the “cafetorium” (a cafeteria that transformed into an auditorium and gymnasium as well!) I noticed a classmate with a carton of milk—one of those half-pints that you open up and drink with a straw. She seemed to be having trouble with the carton because she was fiddling with it. I wanted to be helpful so I took it and opened it for her. I expected to be the “hero” of the day but instead got a scolding from the lunchroom monitor. Turns out, my classmate was returning the milk because she didn’t want it. I paid for and drank two cartons of milk that day.


So, the lesson here is: it’s great to help others. Just make sure they really need and/or want it. The best thing to do when you someone you think needs help is to use your words. ASK if you can help. Respect the other person’s wishes if they say, “No thank you.”


Have you ever tried to help someone, but it didn’t work out the way you expected? I’d love to hear about your experience. Leave me a comment below.