Im Torn

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

A Scout is...helpful


What does it mean to be helpful?  According to the dictionary, it means to serve a useful function, to give help, to give or render aid or assistance.  I think it is a word that we use without much thought...sort of like the words "kind" or "cute".  I thought about it the same way...until our oldest child was truly helpful to a complete stranger.

On July 18, 2012, Ted was riding his bike home from a friend’s house in our neighborhood.  As he was riding up the hill that leads from his friend's house, he heard a cry for help. After stopping and trying to call to the person crying for help, he got off his bike and ran over to the driveway he was passing when he had heard the cry.  Looking around, he saw an old man lying on the ground beside his driveway. In Ted's words, he "was scared, but knew [he] needed to help".  The man told Ted that he had gone to get his mail and lost his balance and fell. Ted asked him how long he had been on the ground;  the gentleman said that he did not know but definitely for a few hours. Ted got his mail for him, helped him inside, then rode home and told Trey what had happened. Together, they returned to the man's house and they found out that he was 82 years old.  After Trey was able to evaluate the situation, he ended up admitting the gentleman to the hospital where he was treated for severe dehydration during a week-long stay. 

July.  Alabama.  Middle of the day.  82 year old unable to move out of the elements.  Truly, the man could have died.  Thankfully, Ted stopped and helped.

Ted stopped.  He saw the need.  Then he helped.

Being truly helpful is rendering assistance in areas where assistance is needed.  In order to know where our assistance is needed, we have to know the situation.  We have to focus on others for more than a fleeting moment.  If Ted had just glanced over his shoulder after hearing the first cry for help, he wouldn't have seen the man.  He would have keep riding and who knows what would have happened.  But he stopped.  He got off his bike.  He looked around.  Then, he helped. 

Yes, I'm a proud mother.  Tonight when Ted was awarded a National Certificate of Merit from the National Court of Honor of the Boy Scouts of America for this act of service, I thought my heart was going to explode out of my chest with pride for this oldest child of ours.  

But...I am also a convicted mother.  Do I stop long enough to see the need?  Do I even hear the cries for help?  If I am honest, then I would have to say no.  However, from now on I'm going to follow my son's example...even when I'm scared.  

Anyone care to join me?