Doing someone a favor
When asking somebody for something, we use the expression “May I have (ask) a favor of you?”
Doing or giving a favor to others is a good habit in our lives. Doing someone a favor means doing something for others with goodwill or good intentions.
For those who are imbued with goodness by nature, it is a lot easier to do favors for people around them. Those who pursue goodness see others in a more positive and constructive way, as with the eyes of God. Thus, they do good spontaneously.
Doing someone a favor brings us consolation, joy and hope. Especially in times of difficulty and trouble, we are relieved from worries and tension when somebody does us a favor with goodwill.
Generosity, tolerance and consideration come from doing a favor. One example would be Boaz, who did a favor to Ruth, the Moabite woman, by letting her glean the wheat left behind by the harvesters in his field. Being very attentive and considerate of Ruth, Boaz said:
“Come here and have something to eat; dip your bread in the sauce … Let her glean among the sheaves themselves without scolding her, and even drop some handfuls and leave them for her to glean; do not rebuke her.” (Ruth 2:14-16) As a result, Boaz and Ruth had a good relationship.
I remember an American sister with whom I took a charism course in Rome. She was very attentive, generous, lovely and thoughtful by nature.
One day, I had to cope with a broken radiator in my room at midnight. When I woke up and put my feet down to go to the toilet, the floor was wet. I found a tiny hole in the radiator, and water was leaking out.
So I collected the water on the floor into a bucket with a dustpan and a mop. I was afraid of waking the others. For a while, I cleaned water alone. Then, hearing the noise from downstairs, that American sister woke up and came down to help me. So, we put water in the bucket together in our pajamas.
I was so glad and grateful for her willing help at night. As the day began to break, I called a senior sister to inform her of the situation in my room.
We pay back favors to one another. When I receive a favor for free, without cost, I do the same to others for free, without cost. Doing favors for others goes around and around. It is such a warm-hearted and cheerful virtue.
For several months, I have been looking back on my life and writing my life story again, in preparation for the monthlong Spiritual Exercises retreat in September. As I faced many moments like knots in a tree, I struggled and pondered on the paths I have walked.
Then, with the help of my second sister, I found the two keywords of my whole life: goodness and mercy. Thanks to God’s goodness and mercy, I am here now.
Even before I was born, God let me be with his goodness and mercy. After I was born, He took care of me with goodness and mercy. He has led me constantly with goodness and mercy throughout my life.
“Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the Lord for endless days.” (Psalm 23:6)
Kim Ae-ran is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul (Figlie di San Paolo), living the Good News and proclaiming it through various means of social communication.