Turning Off the Drip

Houston, Texas

We are reminded sometimes about the “Golden Rule” to treat each other as we would want to be treated. However, it’s just not popular in today’s world to stop and help each other or support our fellow co-worker before helping ourselves. Many people say things like, “I don’t have the time right now.” “Maybe some other time.” “Oh, that’s not for me. Go and ask someone else.”

But that didn't happen last week in Houston TX. The outpouring of human kindness was beyond anything we have seen in a very long time. Too often, when there is not a natural disaster taking place and causing much anguish in our hometowns, we tend to take care of ourselves first not letting anyone get in the way of where we are going. This is, unfortunately, considered "normal." Sometimes, it’s right in our own backyards. Jumping in the car and heading to the store for weekly groceries can be a hassle. We are in a head-spinning hurry; we can’t find those special olives we need for dinner; every single checkout line is the one with a cashier who finds a need to tell her story to every single shopper of what went wrong when she dropped the bottle of shampoo in the shower that morning!  

More aggravations await us when we gas up our cars; pick up clothes from the cleaners; get to a doctor appointment just to find out the doctor has been called to an emergency; and burn dinner for tonight’s meal without the special olives. It all makes us humans irritable and not very anxious to stop and help our neighbor.          

Stop The Drip

All of us will surely have things go wrong every now and then. It’s not possible to get through life without some challenges. But, there are definite ways to reduce a constant, non-stop drip of annoyances and irritations. If we are willing to give these ideas a try, we just might find a healthier way to live.

• Plan - this may seem like just another chore, but making lists is a definite life-saver. Really, with all the “List” and “Notes” apps available for our cell phones, it’s a cinch. Each time we use the last drop of something in our kitchen, bathroom, or garage, grab the phone (c’mon we know it’s always near) and add it to the convenient on-line list. When we get to the grocery store, no guessing, there it is!

• Prepare - the same goes for using a calendar--digital or traditional--if we can get in the habit of marking down all appointments, we will never find we have forgotten an important meeting. Practical tip from the experts: use only ONE calendar! Not one for the house, office and the car or this step will drive us crazy real quick!

• Participate - putting ideas like these to work for ourselves, is more than half the battle. Once this ball is rolling, we will think of many other things to kill the stress in our lives. Leaving early for shopping and appointments, not waiting until our nerves are frazzled, and using deep breathing exercises can all become healthy habits to bring us peace and contentment.

The Last Best Thing

Prayer could have been listed above, but it is not just “a” step, it is a “continual” step. Using time to speak to God before, during, and after our day begins will make all things possible. Subsequently, when we reach a point of peace in our lives, we can reach out to comfort and help others without thinking about ourselves first. It is certainly worth the effort.   

Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Philippians 2:2-4 (Message)