John Wesley once said, “Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.” The spirit behind his message is a challenge for us to look beyond the everyday of our own lives and fix our sights on making a difference.
What Wesley’s statement does not address is the attitude behind giving that ultimately matters more than the giving itself.
So often we think of giving in the capacity of purchasing something special for someone for an occasion such as a birthday, holiday or major life event. The reality is giving is not about a monetary gift, instead it is about using the gifts within ourselves to serve others around us.
Service can happen in private or in public, in big ways or in small and for strangers or family. It is not about filling a need, it is about loving each other from a space within ourselves that understands what it feels like to carry the burdens of life and to know the power of words like, “Let me walk beside you to help lessen the load.” Giving that comes from a place of love, without conditions or strings provides us with a fulfilling satisfaction that self-interest can never offer.
Serving others with a cheerful heart is a lifestyle. One that according to Search Institute is necessary for young people to grow up healthy, caring and responsible. For many youth, the world is small and consists of school, home, and their neighborhood. When adults create opportunities for service outside their everyday, their world expands as does their confidence.
Service to Others, Developmental Asset no. 9 of the 40 Developmental Assets, proves that youth who serve in their community for one hour or more each week gain satisfaction from helping others, a greater acceptance and understanding of people who are different than them, became more patient and kind, and develop valuable leadership skills.
Young people report that through cheerful giving, they receive much more than they give. Unfortunately, according to the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey, only 45.7 percent of Maine teens between the ages of 14-18 years old spend time each week in community service activities.
When thinking of opportunities to serve, it is critical that we think of your own talents. Are you an artist, gardener, musician, athlete or someone who loves to play card games, read or crochet? Your talents, no matter how big or small, are of great value to those in need.
Service can be planned and formal such as spending time at a soup kitchen or being a mentor for a youth program or it can be spontaneous and as simple as holding the door for someone or taking the time to smile and say hello. True service needs no form of recognition, accepts no reward, expects nothing in return, and has only one motivator; love.
So love those around you in such a way that they feel valued, give through your gifts so another’s need may be met, be kinder than necessary to brighten a sad heart, and always leave people better than you found them. Whose life will be changed today by your acts of service through cheerful giving?
Allison Heidorn is outreach and marketing coordinator for Healthy Aroostook/Drug Free Communities. She can be reached at 207-999-1014.
