Service: A Form of Gratitude

Did you know you could show appreciation in other ways than saying thank you and giving gifts. Sincere appreciation is hard to come by nowadays, people don’t even say ‘Thank you’ anymore. To summarize, people now say Chivalry is dead. I disagree. It’s scarce but not dead. I mean endangered species are still species right? I was taking the 5 languages of Apology test by Gary Chapman because I was arguing with someone that for me, saying sorry doesn’t just fly with me and there are many ways to apologize. I read emotions, facial expressions and body language but what I hate the most is when someone never actually acknowledges that they’re wrong or doesn’t think they are especially when they couldn’t be more wrong. You can take the test here. Anyways I digress.

Have you ever considered being of service to anyone? No matter who you are and how materialistic you might be, our innate selves love the idea that someone would go out of their way to ‘do’ something for us. Not pay someone to do it or but something that does it, but actually do something for us with their time and their whole hearts. It’s funny but service differs from scenario to scenario. For example, if a very strict superior tells you to take a break after working very hard, that they’ll finish it up, it would make you feel very happy because you’ve been appreciated as opposed to your busy friend who you’d want to just give you five minutes of their time so you can hang out together. It’s a very common phenomenon. Children of rich kids want their parent’s attention so they can play ball or watch a movie together, wives of busy spouses just want their husbands to have a candlelit or fireplace dinner with them. It all boils down to service. Volunteering to do something out of your normal schedule which may or may not be convenient for you.

Why do we all want this? Because humans love to feel important and it is only for an important person you would stop everything. I’m sure by now someone must have popped up in your mind. This applies to not only your spouse, friend or family but your community. Sometimes you see people in charge of community affairs saying that even though monetary donations are great, hands on service is often needed as well. It builds a bond among the members of the community. So? how can you be of help? There are many ways you could be of service to anyone or any group. The trick is to ‘See a need, fill a need’

Hence, in honor of the upcoming  Mother’s Day, here’s a thought. Instead of the usual ‘Mother’s Day Gift Ideas’ which a lot of you might be considering, in addition, spend time with your mama. Some mothers would kill just to cook with you or have a family dinner or have an outing with her, just mother to child. I also realize that some of you may have lost your mommies. You know what? Find a mama with no children or a child with no mama. Remember see a need, fill a need. As much as you ca, be of service to someone. The material things may get lost and stolen or even out of date but the memories now and the smile across their face is what you should live for. They are priceless.

Happy Mother’s Day in advance. To all the moms out there, we love and appreciate you.