I just googled the phrase “helping hands.’ Depending upon your world view you may or may not be surprised by the extraordinary number of services that appear. People helping people. Food pantries, home caregivers, support for people with spinal cord injuries, disaster relief, charity donations, hunger relief…. It’s a lengthy list. For a moment, if you can imagine – or better yet, realize – the reality represented by the list, you might get a tiny view into that part of humanity that is not often reported. People helping people everyday. It’s everywhere, all year, everyday.
Feel good stories don’t generate the same size audience as the horror stories so they populate less space in the news cycle. It’s possible to see, if you look away from your many screens, that vastly more people are helping people than are people hurting people. It’s possible to see it.
In my town, there is a woman who feeds the hungry twice a day, winter-spring-summer-fall. She doesn’t stop feeding people after the giving season passes or when the cameras are gone. That is true of most of the people helping people on this earth. They help. There is no limelight. They help because they want to help. They help because they feel compelled to help. She is one of a legion of people in my community living life as helping hands. I am surrounded by givers and helpers. So are you.
Ann used to tell me to find a need and fill it. Sage advice. Deeply human. It is true that you will see what you decide to see. Where you place your focus does truly matter. Hands that help. Hands that hurt. Both are out there. One vastly out-populates the other. Can you see it? Do you want to see it?
read Kerri’s blog post on HELPING HANDS
‘helping hands’ in all it’s forms ©️ 2018/2015 david robinson & kerri sherwood
Filed under: DR Thursday, Gratitude, Heroes, Seeing, Uncategorized | Tagged: david robinson, davidrobinsoncreative.com, focus, focus placement, giving, god's kitchen, helping hands, humanity, Kerri Sherwood, kerrianddavid.com, kerrisherwood.com, people helping people, seeing, service, society6.com/davidrobinson |
David, I love your posts and have been reading them for years without even saying thank you, though I’m forever appreciative. While most make me smile, or feel gratitude, or think differently, today’s post made me giggle – thanks for that too. (Typo: “food panties”)
I love your art. Someday, when circumstances permit, I hope to buy a piece.
Warmly,
Kathy _______________ Kathy Hill Sent from my iPhone
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I’m glad you pointed out my typo! It made you giggle and made me laugh out loud. I guess if I’m going to miss I might as well miss with humor.
Thank you for your kind thoughts – and for sharing them with me. Kerri and I often wonder if anyone out there is actually reading us so it matters greatly to hear your thoughts and musings (and typo giggles).
With Gratitude and Thanks,
David
Oooh, I like your painting!