What Would Mama Think?

Earlier this month, Mama would have turned 101 years old. When she died at age 83, she lamented that she didn't get to live to be 100. Until she lay dying, I didn't know that she harbored such a lofty goal. Unfortunately, her health didn't allow her to live to that ripe, old age. It's now been 18 years since she left us and not a day passes that I don't think of her.  

As the years have passed without her, I've wondered what she would think about each of us, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. I would hope that she would be proud of us, and happy that we turned out okay. I also wonder what she thinks of our new world, and how divided our country has become. How what used to be thought of as wrong, has become the new right. 

I try not to dwell on such thoughts, even though our new society swirls around me and it's hard to ignore. Instead, I try to stay focused on the good. I relish news stories that feature people doing good and noble things in their communities, people who help others, even though they may not have much to call their own, and people who step up during a crisis, because it's the right thing to do. People who exemplify the best of humanity. I like to think that there are more of the latter than people who are all for themselves. 

One thing I do know is that doing good for others generates more goodness. When you do something for another person, you not only feel uplifted yourself, but you send kindness down the line. The person who is on the receiving end of your altruism is more likely to do the same for another. It's become a common phrase: "paying it forward." Practicing decency, graciousness, and generosity daily begets more goodness in others. And God only knows that we could use a whole lot more of that in this world. 

I'm not talking about giving a million dollars that you don't have to charity, rather, hone in on simple things. Take an elderly neighbor to a doctor's appointment. Mow a single mom's lawn. Bake cookies for a shut-in. Read books to young children at your local library. Volunteer in a soup kitchen. Next time you're at the grocery store, help a mother with a cart full of food to load her groceries into her car. 

Not everyone commits to a New Year's resolution at the start of each year. If you haven't, it's not too late. If it's something you'd like to do, there's an extraordinarily meaningful one you can start doing today. One you can do every day and make a difference in our world. Go out and do something good for somebody. Look around you. There's always someone who can use a helping hand. 

Till next time.............