In the previous article, we tackled the issue of benevolence and it benefit for the benevolent and the taker. The effort exerted by Abraham Lincoln’s mother came for the good of a whole nation. Benevolence sometimes met with meanness; however a benevolent would never cease giving and turning malevolence to benevolence. It resembles light that no darkness could cover it.
Good deeds affect not only its recipient but also whoever witnessed them. None of us may forget an incident of a young man helping an old man or a child to cross the street. A Benevolent person is a role model and source of inspiration.
I recall a real story about a servant who was telling a story in one of the church’s meetings about a man who he has seen saving 20 persons from drowning that he fainted afterwards out of the unbearable physical effort. Then the servant said that he would never forget that man who inspired him to learn how to serve others. Suddenly, an old man rose up saying that he was the one the servant was talking about. When asked about his feeling after his heroic deed, the old man said that he was sad that no one of those whom he saved nor their families thanked him and he was sad for that till he heard the servant talking about him as he realized that his good deed didn’t go with the wind, but rather it has its effect that was an inspiration to others to do the same.
Good deeds would never fail. They represent steps to be followed on the road of giving. Goodness is a path that lasts from birth to death. It springs out of love for others. Thus, the best lesson we should teach to our children is to love their home country and one another. With no doubt this love will lead to the growth of goodness and its prevalence over our country. “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”- Nelson Mandela
Maybe no one realized your help to those who are about to fall
Nor they appreciate you love that is proved through good deeds
You maybe think that there is no goodness at our present time
That Goodness went to a faraway land where it meets the beast of endless oblivion
This would never be true, my friend
Goodness would never ever ceases to exist
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
