Self-Improvement and Relationships
You Can’t Rescue Everyone
Besides, you might over-help and do someone a disservice
“Quick! Steer the boat over to the bird. It’s drowning.”
I urged my husband Lee to hurry so I could swipe the woodcock from the sea. But it sunk under the waves.
“No doubt, it was shot and fell in the water,” he said. “You can’t rescue everyone, Bridget.”
My heart sank with the damaged fledgling.
The scenario felt familiar. When I saw anyone drowning in debt, sorrow, or fear, I wanted to scoop them up and help them settle on dry land.
But Lee was right: You can’t rescue everyone.
And I later recognized that I did not always need to rescue them. Sometimes, their troubles gave them opportunities to learn how to swim on their own.
Why do we want to rescue people?
Wanting to help others is a normal human response to witnessing their suffering. We can improve their lives if we stop their pain by lending a hand. We serve a fine purpose and add meaning to our lives by being effective and compassionate.
Indeed, helping people is a fabulous way to increase our value and do our bit to…
