Principles – “Sarah” – Saturday, 19th of August, 2017

We tackled two life principles at the last article that were manifest at the story of “the Paper Napkins’ Seller”.

First: Goodness brings nothing but goodness

Second:  When man offers all what he can in an honest and simple way, all matters will turn in his favor. This is what happened with Sarah who was a waitress working at a one of the restaurants when she offered the menus to two ladies who asked her to bring them the cheapest meals they have. They had no enough money as they didn’t get their salaries for some months due to hard financial conditions their company was going through.

Sarah brought them their meals and when they asked for the bill, she offered them a paper in which it was written, “I paid your bills from my personal account considering your circumstances. This is the least I can do to you. Thanks for your kindness!!”She signed the paper with her name, Sarah. Sarah offered what she had as the seller of paper napkins did, though she was going through hard financial conditions as she was saving money to buy a new TV and taking this action meant she had to wait for more time. This was what her friend told her when she considered her action was an impulsive irresponsible and impulsive behavior as she offered money to others while she and her child were in a dire need for it.

However, Sarah received a call from her mother telling her she was very proud of her and her action. While Sarah was taken by surprise, her mother resumed saying, “Your helpful deed you offered to the ladies was mentioned on social media after they shared your letter and it spread by many who admired your action. The story didn’t end as Sarah found out that she received many messages from producers and TV reporters that she became the guest of the most famous TV programs. She received a TV, 10 thousand dollars, 5-thousand purchasing voucher and gifts that are more valuable than 100 thousand dollars to show respect and appreciation to her humane action.

Another principle is not to stop giving even if it is useless as you don’t know how much your giving affects other people’s lives. At many times, we don’t find solutions to problems that other people faced nor can ease their suffering, however if we did simple actions, we can help them overcome their pain, for example, we can offer them our attention so they would restore their self-confidence, renew their hope in life so that they become stronger, braver and more able to overcome their difficulties and problems. Hence, our true role is to lighten the way and disperse the darkness of the road. The girl who sold the napkins had no solution for the problem, but she owned a pack of napkins and a smile that soothed the pain of the wife thus enabled her to solve her problem. Dear reader, offer all you can as may be this will be the first step to solve someone’s problem, yet you may be unaware of this.

General Bishop

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center