You are such a blessing to others, offering love, support, and assistance you greet others with, “What can I do for you?”
There are those of us who come to this planet with a servant’s heart. That is to say that we thrive when serving others. I am a person whose optimal performance shines when assisting someone to achieve their highest and best. In my work, little is more exciting than being in the room when someone achieves a breakthrough or epiphany.
Many occupations in our society are performed by those who perform at their best, using all their skills for the betterment of others. You find these mild-mannered super heroes in jobs like child care, church work, clergy, coaching, consulting, counselors, emergency response personnel, firefighters, military service, missionaries, nursing and health care, social workers and volunteers, etc.
The persons who are born with a servant’s heart are willing to put aside their own personal wants, needs, and desires so that others can survive or thrive. You will find many of them serving in a full-time capacity and volunteering their free time to help even more.
I am quite impressed that a firefighter chooses an occupation that requires them to run into a burning building to help whomever might need their assistance getting out—and they love it—this is their calling. Now, I might run into a burning building to save someone, but I would not want to have to work a job that required me to do that all day long.
Fortunately, there are those whose hearts and skills are more attuned to service work, relishing and performing tasks for the greater good. Although someone who tends to be a giver, they can be quickly taken advantage of, and these people can’t give to everyone all the time without risking their ability to perform their practice.
It is in our best interest to monitor these high-functioning service workers to see if they appear to be giving too much. Are they depleting their personal resources? Are they being manipulated by abusers or users who will drain (or monopolize) their resources? Are they sacrificing their own needs too much (rest, eating right, health maintenance, time with their own family, etc.…)?
Let’s keep a watchful eye out for those who might have a tendency to sacrifice all and help them notice that it’s okay to take some time out for themselves, to take a break, to eat a good meal, to spend time with loved ones, to take a vacation, a spa day—do something fun once in a while. Because oftentimes, the best givers maintain such a high level of giving that they fail to take a moment to look at their own lives.
These mostly unsung superheroes receive expressions of gratitude and sometimes recognition or praise for their courageous acts of service. Still, there is nothing more meaningful to someone who gives and gives… than hearing those few words that they often speak when arriving on the scene or meeting someone:
What can I do for you?
To those givers – who are giving your all – for the greater good, I honor your service.
And don’t be offended when someone tries to get you to take a look at your own life, encouraging you to take some time to recharge and rejuvenate so that you are better for continued service without the threat of burnout (or worse).
Where would we be without you?
Keep an open mind and cherish those who support you in kind.
Loving you and all that you do
What about teachers?