HAVE I DONE ANY GOOD

                  HAVE I DONE ANY GOOD

                                                         (Picture from Deseret News)

   We have a song in our Church which poses the question, “Have I done any good in the World today.” Then it goes on to ask some specific questions as to how we might have done some good, perhaps every day, and not even have thought about it.

   I am also pretty sure all of us do some good almost every day. Many times it may have been something you have planned on, perhaps even with a group of people. However I know a lot of good things are done spontaneously by one individual to another, and perhaps not even thought about by the doer or the receiver. It may have been thought provoking by one of the parties when it is over.

   I have been blessed, or cursed, as you can look at it both ways---- with the desire and ability to talk to friends or strangers and at least one of us (Me) always enjoys it.

   I talk to strangers in the grocery store, people at a gas station, people who I open or close a door for, and yes, almost anyone who looks my way and smiles will usually get at least a comment.

   I once heard a story about Bishop Niederhauser, who was the Roman Catholic Bishop in Utah. He had been asked to speak to a group of prestigious people. He indicated he wanted to tell a short story before his speech. It seems he had at one time been asked to talk to a similar group at another time. At that time he saw a lady he thought he knew. He stepped up and tapped her on the shoulder and when she turned around he said, “I think I know you from a long time ago, you look like Helen Brown.” She turned and took a couple of steps, then turned around and said, “No I do not know you, and by the way you do not look that terrific in all black either!” Needless to say he got more than a few laughs from the group that were waiting for him to speak. I am sure that as the old movie cliché says’ He made their day.”

   I do my blogs as they come to mind. They are not pre-planned but just seem to pop into my head at various times and in various places. Because of this I have to grab them quickly or I miss them. Also my memory is not as good as it used to be. Sometimes I ramble and some time they are short and to the point. I love to hear from the people who enjoy them as that encourages me to keep it up? That also is why my blogs are about MANY DIFFERENT things.

  On one occasion I was in downtown Salt Lake and trying to cross the street where there was a cross walk but no traffic light. Just after I had got there an older lady with a walker hobbled up and stopped at the cross walk. We stood there for a few minutes waiting for the cars to stop, but they didn’t. After a few minutes the lady looked at me with smile and said,” if you will stop the first car I will break a trail for us.” Well I stepped off the curb and put up both hands and lo and behold the car stopped. The lady on the walker went passed me and all the cars stopped. I walked beside her until we got to the other side of the road. Then with a grin on her face she said, “We make a good team don’t we,” as she went on down the sidewalk. Well I do not know how she felt but I felt great because I had helped. Then on second thought, did I help her or did she help me?

   In addition to the physical things we can do I (and some people cannot do many physical things) we can all do many small acts of kindness. Even though we give these things to others we actually still have them. You can give” hugs” away all day and still have not given yours away. I know this is true because I grew up in a “hugging” family. You can give away handshakes all day and still have not lost yours at the end of the day. A short visit that you have been putting off, to an old friend for a loooong time would only cost you a little time and give both of you a lot of pleasure. Even a passing comment to someone on the street, or in a Church, or store might brighten someone else’s day. If you make the comment, “I hope you have a great day,” they probably will.

   I am a collector of “stuff” and I found this by Ralph Waldo Emerson--- “You can never do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” I like this idea.

   I had a friend when I was in the Air Force that had a favorite saying that usually helped me when I was having bad day. He would say, “Remember, no matter how handsome or how beautiful you are, or how plain you are you will ALWAYS look a lot better if you smile.”

   There are not many things that you can give away, and still keep them, but there are a lot of small acts of kindness that you can.

   In a talk by President Thomas S. Monson (April 2014) He said,—“There are many attributes which are manifestations of love, such as kindness, patience, selflessness, understanding and forgiveness. In all our associations these and other such attributes will help make evident the love in our hearts.  

   Usually our love will be shown in our day-to-day interactions one with another. All important will be our ability to recognize someone’s need and then respond.”

W.R. Baldwin 24 May 2017