The Joy of Service
Service as a caregiver can be defined as the art of taking such good care of yourself that you automatically take good care of others. When you are filled with love, happiness and compassion the desire to share these qualities is effortless, because that’s who you are.
Service is one of the great open secrets of the world that by serving others you serve yourself. This is what Ralph Waldo Emerson said. “It is one of the beautiful compensations of this life that no one can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.” Those who have given to others for the joy of giving know that the reward is just that – joy.
Caregivers serve in a true sense because it feels good and because of that good feeling we strive to do more. As a poet once wrote, “The greatest gift is to fill a need un-noticed.” That gift is given to both the giver and the receiver. “The love I give you is secondhand: I feel it first.”
When you give to others and find it depleting simply means you have not taken the time to give fully to yourself first. You should only give to others of the overflow from yourself. When you are giving to yourself unconditionally, you’ll find the overflow will always exceed the need.
Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.
(John Wesley).
An article in the May 1988 issue of American Health claims that doing good for others is physiologically good for you.
A study in Tecumseh, Michigan showed that in doing something good for others enhanced the immune system, lowered cholesterol levels, strengthened the heart, decreased chest pains and generally reduced stress. One interesting study at Harvard showed that even thinking about doing service produced positive physiological results.
Service can be done in a number of ways. For example, the telephone enables service even from one’s bed. It is a marvelous tool of service with which you can, to quote Ma Bell, “reach out and touch someone.”
In addition to feeling good and knowing that you are doing a good deed serving others, service is the most wonderful cycle of giving and receiving.
Lord, make me an instrument of your Peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope, where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
(Saint Francis of Assisi)
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Careers are some of the least recognised heros of our society. They are absolute stars in my eyes and deserve the best support we can offer..
Bill
Wish all people could learn to be a caregiver to some degree. Most are takers. It is all about themselves. Hat's off to all like you who give of themselves to take care of others
For me, this is probably the best blog I've read! In the bible Jesus said, "...Whoever wants to be great among you, must be a servant to all" (Matt. 20:26). In the pastoral epistles you find that the terms for pastor and bishop mean servant.
Agree wholeheartedly. Many pastors today seem to be the one being served not the servant. Shame really, since they miss out on the great joy of service.
You're right. There's a great joy that comes when you humble yourself and serve others. I spent years going to a local mission to help serve the homeless. It was a blessing! Thank you for your comments.
Lovely blog, Vena. To be of service to the others is on the agenda of lots of human beings, right now. It is wonderful to help each other and ultimately we all serve the Creator. Without his creation we wouldn't be conscious of who we are. Thank you Vena. Blessed be.
I love the value of service. We are created to serve others. A favourite Biblical thought of mine is "There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving."
Great post Vena. It is very true that when we help others, we in turn help ourselves. I love the Saint Francis of Assisi prayer. Thanks for including it in your post.
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So true, it seems the most fulfilling thing in life is to love and to serve.