Just doing our jobs

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September 13, 2009

By Helen Reynolds / news editor The Meridian Star Sun Sep 13, 2009, 12:17 AM CDT

The second is this, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself. There is no other law greater than these. — Mark 12:31

When someone is complimented for going out of their way to help someone, they generally shy away and say something like, "No problem. Just doing my job."

Still the person who was helped is very grateful. It also makes the person doing the helping feel good as well, although most of the time they won't show it.

They really don't feel in need of praise because, even though that person helped someone, they felt it was just part of their job and didn't go out of their way to help.

Some people really do go out of their way to help someone. Recently, my daughter had to have a test run at the doctor's office. Since the holiday weekend was coming up I would have had to wait until after the holiday to get the test results. Her doctor asked me to page him on Sunday so he could get the results sooner.

On Sunday! The day before Labor Day.

I felt extremely grateful to have such a wonderful pediatrician. He was willing to take time on a long holiday weekend for me and my child. My pediatrician could have easily told me to wait until after the holiday, but he took that extra step — beyond what most would do — to help me and my daughter.

So what if people didn't "just do their job."

What would happen if people didn't go out of their way to help others.

What if no one cared and just didn't want to do their job.

There are many people who are unhappy with their jobs and consider it "just a paycheck." And sometimes that shows in their attitudes.

What if, instead of hearing "No problem. Glad I could help," you heard "That's not my problem. I can't help you." I have heard this phrase a few times and it has made me very frustrated. Granted, there are times when a problem cannot be solved, but we should make every effort to try and help.

Another case in point.

Several months ago I was visiting my friend in Birmingham, Ala. We decided to stop at McDonalds. For one reason or another we decided to park and go in. One of the three kids was asleep, so I made a list and went in while my friend stayed in the van with the kids. After making the order I asked for one of those cardboard things to carry the drinks. They were out. I was going to have to make two trips to get everything to the van. The person behind the counter grabbed the bags and said "If you get the drinks, I'll get the food." He went out of his way to help me. He could have easily said "Sorry about that," and went on doing his job.

Everyone gets bogged down with day-to-day activities and we all can be a little selfish at times, including myself. It can be hard to be nice ALL the time. But we must remember that we share this world with billions of other people. If someone is being rude or inconsiderate we don't have to retaliate and do the same thing. It's OK to be nice. No one will think you are a pushover. No one will think any less of you. We must do what we can to help others, to be kind, and even go out of our way to make someone happy.

Yet another example. As I was driving home from work at 1:30 in the morning, I was pulled over by a police officer about two blocks from my house. He said I ran a stop sign at a four-way stop. Well, I didn't think I did and was a little angry for being stopped. Maybe my tires didn't stop a full two seconds, but I know I slowed down. I thought about the situation while he was checking my driver's license. In his opinion I ran a stop sign. It's 1:30 in the morning, on a holiday weekend, in a neighborhood that has seen more crime in recent months. After he came back with my license, he said I was OK to go. We talked for a minute or two and I thanked him for being in my neighborhood. It made me feel safer knowing he was patrolling the streets. I was no longer angry for being pulled over. I was grateful that he was "just doing his job."

Helen Reynolds is news editor at The Meridian Star. E-mail her at hreynolds@themeridianstar.com.

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