Making a Difference

“We rise by lifting others.”
Robert Ingersoll
 
Goldie, my yellow lab, and I, along with several other dogs, visited a Life-Skills class awhile back so that disabled young people might have the opportunity to get comfortable with dogs.

One particular young man in the class approached her cautiously, hooded eyes focused on her intently. His Life-Skills instructor stood off to the right and asked him,

“Steve, what’s the first thing you have to do?”

He shifted his eyes to look at me, round face serious as he struggled to form the words.

“May I pat your dog?”

“Sure!” I answered, “Goldie loves to meet people.”

Goldie sat in front of him, her tail wagging, doggie smile on her face and ears sweetly back as she gazed up at him. He slowly reached his fisted hand down toward her to smell, as he had been taught. She gave his hand a sniff and looked at him for what else he might offer, tail wagging. He opened his fingers and gave her a tentative scratch under her chin, then turned his hand over to stroke the top of her head. To my right I heard a sudden intake of breath.

“That’s the first time he has been willing to touch a dog!” said his instructor in an excited whisper.

Goldie lay down then, sniffing at Steve’s sneaker-clad feet, her attention focused on him. His hand followed her down, a smile on his face, and he continued gently stroking her head and then her paws.

“Goldie likes gentle pats just like you’re doing, Steve. Good job!” I said.

“He’s smiling, right?” asked his instructor quietly.

“He is!” I said, feeling great.

That’s why Goldie and I were there. That day we made a difference in someone’s life. 

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

Your Spiritual Toolbox

You don’t need to have a friendly dog in your life to make a difference for others. There are so many ways to reach out, to be of service. Volunteering for a non-profit you believe in is one way to get involved and make a difference. Or, if you’d rather, you don’t have to formalize it in this way.
​
Making a difference is an attitude first, then an action.

It doesn’t take much. Stay alert to ways you might make a difference. Sometimes all it takes is a kind word or a smile, letting someone know they matter.

When you have an attitude of service the pay back to you is big because it feels great.

With each small action, you make our world just a little kinder, a little more loving.