Time to be Kind
Sometimes it seems like bad things just keep happening and we are seeing the worst of humanity—wars, famine, disease, violence, and natural disasters. With non-stop access to media on our mobile devices, along with the countless doomsday headlines, it is difficult to avoid or overlook the bad news.
Be assured though that there are people who, no matter what happens, see the best of life. They go out of their way to make a difference and make the world a better place. And they do this without a “what’s in it for me?” motivation.
The Greater Good
In honor of Alexandria Industries’ 50-year anniversary in 2016, we challenged our employees to participate in 50 community service projects. We envisioned this to be a grassroots effort where we offered help to our neighbors, people in need, and anyone less fortunate. These efforts could be as simple as helping a neighbor with yard work, delivering meals to home-bound seniors, donating to the local food shelf, or helping plant a community garden.
Even though many employees did not want any recognition by sharing their good deeds, we surpassed our goal of participating in 55 projects, truly making a difference in the lives of others. The community projects reported were simple random acts of kindness, often performed spur of the moment, and always given from the heart. Project examples included helping a college student fix her garage door, adopting an elderly neighbor and helping someone change a flat tire.
One employee said his family met their neighbor, “Grandma Eleanor,” the day they moved into their new house. Their relationship has since grown and his family is truly grateful for the opportunities to serve her. They have been helping with outdoor projects, putting up and taking down Christmas decorations, and sharing meals, as Grandma Eleanor is widowed and had no children of her own.
There will always be people who need a helping hand. Our hope is that we all seek out opportunities to help others, including our neighbors and even people we do not know. If you come across someone who needs help, take a moment to lend a hand—for the greater good in all of us.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16