|
|
by Rev. Fr. V.V. Paulose, Toronto, Canada
"Those who give one of these little ones a cup of cold water because they are my followers will truly get their reward.” (Mathew 10:42)
The secret of happiness...just be nice.
If you are looking for a mood shift on a cranky day, try holding the door open for a stranger or just, help someone in any way possible. In a study of 700 people, the participants performed a good deed for another person for less than 15 minutes a day, over the course of a week, either by actually helping them out, or just being supportive. Luke 10:33 -"Then a Samaritan came along and when he saw the man, he felt compassion.” The participants showing compassion still felt the effect six months later-and reported significantly larger increase of self-esteem and happiness than the control group. What is amazing is the time investment required for these changes to occur is so small. They say, "We’re talking about merely minutes a day.” John 11:19 - "Many of the Jews had come there to comfort Martha and Mary about their brother.”
The researchers realized that people who treat others kindly may also be more charitable with themselves and more positive generally in their world view and they will get support back. Exodus 2:6 - “The king’s daughter opened the basket and saw the baby boy. He was crying, so she felt sorry for him.”
Jose, 48, a mentally challenged man is staying in a group home. There are a number of bed-ridden residents and of course, the people to take care of. All the able-bodied are supposed to be in the dining hall for the food, but Jose is an exception. He wants to take the food to the bed-ridden people, sit with them, feed them, and bring the plates back to the pantry, and then only he comes for his food. He gets very upset and will be on the verge of tears if he is not allowed to do that. He makes sure that everybody has their meals on time and he is even concerned about the food of the staff members and guests too. He does this angelic work 24/7/365 meticulously without any complaints but with lots of love and compassion. He is the good Samaritan with full of heavenly happiness and compassion.
Do 5 to 15 minutes of charity work daily. You can probably get the good deed done just by pressing the 'open door' button on the elevator a few times a day.
Jesus, let good Samaritans bloom all over the earth. Let compassion flow in all nooks and corners of the world where there is darkness of hard-heartedness. We pray for all the compassionate companions of Jesus like Jose. Let us be nice to one and all, and hard to none. All we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Yesterday | Today with Jesus Archives | Next
More Devotionals | Weekly Devotionals | Sermons | Essays | Articles | Bible Study | Malankara World - Home | Baselios Church Home
-------
Malankara World
A service of St. Basil's Syriac Orthodox
Church, Ohio
Copyright © 2009-2020 - ICBS Group. All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer
Website designed, built, and hosted by
International Cyber Business Services, Inc., Hudson, Ohio
