To The Helpers- Encouragement For Fighting The Good Fight

SERIOUSLY?! Is the only thing that comes to mind when I look back over this week. It’s been a frustrating, heartbreaking, kind of a week. A man on trial for a vicious child murder and a school shooting in South Florida, and that’s on top of every other news piece that’s out there. It can make the & of people cynical-and honestly, who can blame them? That’s why I wanted to write something to the helpers.

I won’t lie, I try and stay away from the news as much as possible. I know it’s not the smartest thing but I get the blurbs and try and filter out what I really need to read. This week, there’s a man on trial for a vicious child abduction and murder from 5 years ago that feels like it was just the other day. I won’t get into the specifics, 1. Because I refuse to put his name out there to gain fame (even bad fame), and 2. I feel like the entire situation should have never ever happened but the past is what it is and me bashing another mom isn’t going to do any good or change it.

Then, a 19-year old opens fire in a school killing innocent people on a place where they are supposed to be safe. A place no child should be scared to go to and no parent should be afraid to leave them. It seems as though it should be so preventable especially in this environment, but that been proven more than once not to be the case.

Not only are these issues difficult and heartbreaking but it’s on top of a stack of things that have happened over the past few years which makes it even heavier. Like giant Jenga blocks we’re stacking and eventually, they will fall over and crush us.

Looking For The Helpers

It’s during times like this that someone always mentions a quote from Mister Rogers Parenting Book-“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping, to this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers — so many caring people in this world.”

Mister Rogers has a very good point- there’s no denying it. Being able to find the helpers during these bad situations can give you hope. However, a good friend this past week who is a career helper (a nurse) posed the question this week. At what point do you realize that the battle you’re fighting is a losing one? This was coming from a woman who has worked in an urban emergency room and whose husband is a firefighter. The question was out of frustration but I understand where she is coming from.

Helpers often see humanity at it’s absolute worst. The unimaginable reality that many of us could not handle on a daily basis. Even though they see all of this, they still get up to help, to see best in people and not become cynical about life. I think that maybe we take these people for granted or don’t express our gratitude as we should.

Because of this, I wanted to write an open letter to the helpers.

Dear Helpers,

I know that even you can become worn down. Fighting the good fight is not an easy thing to do. Starting each day brand new again and not holding onto the darkness that you work so hard against daily can take it’s toll. You- are like the great artist and builders of cathedrals. We may not know their individual names, but we know their work. Without their work and dedication, not only would architecture itself be a loss, but the millions who have passed through, found comfort, found hope, changed their lives to something better may not have happened. The people who built those cathedrals were part of something much bigger than themselves. There are days I’m sure, where you wake up and wonder if it’s worth it or if you are shoveling crap but it keeps building up and the pile is getting higher.

On those days, I hope you can remember that you do make a difference. The world would be a colder, more cynical place with out you. You are setting the pieces in motion for generations to move forward in creating a better world. Life is a lot like a tapestry. You have to step back once it’s over to see the picture that it has made. There are countless lives you’ve helped change and make better. If you hadn’t, the world wouldn’t have come as far as it has to this point.

Often, we think of you as super heroes but you aren’t always as celebrated as you should be. Please know, that you are appreciated. I pray God gives you a renewal of faith everyday to help you hold on. At the end of the day, I’d rather shovel crap with you than be on the other team any day of the week because I promise you this- you make the world a better place.

Thank you!

Joining In and Lifting Up

We can all be helpers on some level. It is not easy, it takes a lot…but we can be up to that challenge and fight for good hand in hand with these heroes. When other helpers become weary, it’s our job to help them with the load. Don’t give up on good. In many fights, it comes down to endurance and I’m convinced that’s part of this fight as well. You never know when you are on the very brink of change.