There is a definite relation between how we treat others and the level of success we achieve. If a dubious expression is about to overtake you allow me to offer four examples from recent and ancient history.

Elvis Shared His Wealth

I was never really smitten with Elvis Presley like a lot of my girlfriends. I bought very few of his records, and saw only a couple of the films he made. But there was something which really caught my attention about this charismatic celebrity; he had a generous and gracious spirit.

I recall a testimony from a woman which appeared in one of the women’s magazines, how Elvis had seen her shopping for a car in a used car lot. She didn’t have very much money and was slowly becoming discouraged by the fact all her finances would buy was a very old, “clunker”, which wasn’t in real good running condition.

As the story progressed, this lady told how the car Elvis was riding in was stopped at the intersection where this used car lot was located. He must have noticed her and sensed she was in need of assistance. Elvis asked the driver to park the car; he got out and asked the lady if she was looking for a car. When she told him she was, but couldn’t find anything dependable due to her finances, he asked her if she would walk with him across the street to the Cadillac dealership. He told her to find a car she liked and he would purchase it for her.

Of course the lady was in a state of disbelieve and shock. But pointed out a car she liked.

At once Elvis purchased the car for her, handed her the keys and wished her well.

Over the years I have read many accounts of how this magnetic man was quick to share his wealth with those less fortunate. Elvis may have left us a legacy with his music but he is much more of a success with how he lived his life with a willingness to help those less fortunate.

Beatrix Potter’s Compassion

I don’t think there is anyone who isn’t familiar with Beatrix Potter and the charming children’s story she created, The Tales of Peter Rabbit. But did you know she sent her illustrated animal stories to a sick child when she was 27? These were the same delightful stories contained in The Tales of Peter Rabbit. Beatrix Potter is honored with The Tale of Peter Rabbit being the best-selling children’s book of all time. And, there were more than twenty sequels to this beloved story, with such characters as Jeremy Fisher, Jemima Puddle-Duck, and Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle. (Reference: Merriam-Webster Collegiate Encyclopedia; page 1299.)

Friar Pierre and the Beggars of Paris

Another example of being of service or caring about others is the story of the memorable Frenchman, simply known as Pierre. Pierre served in the French Parliament until he became disappointed with the snail’s pace progress of political change.

After witnessing the death of many French beggars, due to an extremely harsh winter, Pierre became a Friar. Friar Pierre began to work among the beggars; he organized them into teams, and sent them through the city searching for empty glass bottles. Then from discarded brick he had them build a warehouse. This became the start of a business processing the bottles.

As this business became successful, Friar Pierre assigned each beggar the task of helping another person poorer than himself. Within a few years, Pierre founded the charitable organization, Emmaus. By this time there were very few beggars in Paris

In need of someone to help, Friar Pierre left for India; there he found people worse off than himself at a leprosy colony. Returning to France he motivated his former beggars to build a leprosy ward at a hospital in India.

When these patients expressed their gratitude to Pierre, he responded, “It is you who have saved us, we must serve or die.” (Reference: Our Daily Bread: “Serve or Die” Phillip Yancey. November 6, 2008).

Kindness Results in a Royal Marriage

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the one about a lady named, Abigail. Abigail was married to a cruel man named Nabal. Nabal was a very wealthy shepherd.

At one time his servants tending his sheep were protected by David and his men from any thieves or wild animals attacking them. David and his men treated these men with respect and kindness.

Thus when David’s supplies began to run out, he sent a couple of his men to Nabal to see if he could “give them whatever he might have available”. Nabal treated these men rudely and insulted them and David.

These men returned to David and gave him a full report of what had happened. David was ready for battle, he told his men to put on their swords.

Meanwhile, one of Nabal’s servants told Abigail what had happened and how David and his men had protected them and the sheep.

Abigail immediately flew into action. She took, “two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, a bushel of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins, and two hundred cakes of pressed figs and loaded them on donkeys.” (I Samuel 25:18)

She instructed her servants to go ahead of her that she would follow behind them.

When she saw David she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before him. She explained her husband; Nabal was just like his name meant: Fool. She humbly asked David’s forgiveness of her husband’s rudeness and his acceptance of her food gifts.

David graciously accepted her gifts and apology, sending her home in peace. Upon arriving home, Abigail found her husband having a banquet as if he were a king. Wisely she waited until morning when he was sober to tell him about what had happened with David and his men. Nabal fell ill and ten days later died of a heart attack.

When David heard Nabal was dead, he wasted little time asking Abigail to marry him.

(Story based on 1 Samuel 25:4-29)

How Can We Help Others?

Many people think it is necessary to have wealth in order to help another person. Sharing one’s wealth is good, but many do not have this option. Yet we all have the ability to help someone nearly every day.

Here are some ways which don’t cost a cent:

* Lend a hand. Can you give someone a ride that doesn’t have transportation? Can you help someone with a garden or yard task, repair their car, or offer advice on some computer problem? These are just a few examples.

* Speak words of encouragement. Even a smile is encouraging, or the wave of your hand.

But to tell someone, they did a great job, look especially nice, or that you appreciate them, goes a long way to bolster one’s spirit.

* Do an act of kindness. I had a fifth grade boy in the writing club I once sponsored. He asked me what it meant to have good manners. I was surprise as this lad was exceptionally polite. I answered him, “Just doing the kindest act possible at the moment it is needed“. He smiled and continued to open doors for his teacher, let the girls in his class precede him into the room, and offered to help me carry my teaching materials to the car.

He also wrote a poem about how badly he hated “manners” which was hysterically funny.

Then resumed being the perfect little gentleman he had always been. Acts of kindness are daily opportunities to be polite and courteous to one another.

* Let others know you believe in them. Sometimes this is the hardest thing to do, on a frequent basis. But you can make a huge difference in someone’s life if you are determined to seek this opportunity out.

Where Do We Start?

The best place to start is right within our homes. Encourage your children, spouse and anyone sharing your home. Next take it to work with you. Be attentive to ways you can do a kind act, speak an encouraging word, or lend a hand with some task. By now you should be ready to let it bubble over into your neighborhood and community.

A number of years ago, a middle-aged man applied for a salesman position in the home furnishing department of a mid-sized department store where I worked as a floor supervisor. I happen to over hear part of the interview, and learned this man was down on his luck, he desperately needed a job.

For some reason, the manager hired, Joe, who had no previously experience in selling. Right from the first day, Joe did something no other salesperson did; he smiled, he greeted everyone with a few cheerful words. As he continued to work for the store, he received the nickname, Smiling Joe. And Smiling Joe was always quick to help me with heavy boxes of merchandise when he did not have a customer to assist. He often told me about his small home he rented and how he desired a larger home for his wife and three children.

Within a year, Joe moved into a four bedroom home at the end of the street I lived on. He spread his smile, cheerful greetings, and willingness to lend a hand to everyone on the street. He also was awarded the most successful salesman of the year by the company.

There is an old saying, “he who is a servant is closest to God’s heart“. Need I encourage you further to “put on a happy face, and spread sunshine all over the place?”