Selfless Love: The Answer to Most Problems

Life isn't fair - it deals out many uncertanties. Heck, life itself is an uncertainty. In all of the madness, it is nice to have met someone who makes everything seem perfectly fine.

I wrote my first draft about Sister Mary Tarpy on Wednesday, even though I have a lot more work to do on it. I pretty much just had to have something for the moment in order to turn it in. While the theme and structure of the paper are constantly expanding, so is my knowledge about this amazing woman.

We all say we care about people. We care about our family, and we care about our friends. But how often do we show this? If we don't show it much, does it mean we even care at all?

The stark reality is that many of us only really seem to care about ourselves. We do what is in our best interest. While I agree that you have to look out for yourself first and foremost (who else will?), it can sometimes consume us. People around you then start to wonder just who you are really concerned about.            

I can admit falling into this trap earlier in my life. Even when I did give people gifts, it was still more so in my best interest - to make me feel better about myself. Is this the kind of "love" we want to go around? 

The fact of the matter is that most people don't truly give a gift to someone. A gift is not expecting something in return - it comes from the bottom of your heart.

Sister Mary is the epitome of a selfless, gift-giving person. She doesn't suddenly pack her bags to see a sick friend because she feels like she owes them something. Nor does she feel like she'd be looked down upon if she didn't. She does it because she truly cares. 

"You don't get these moments too often. You should embrace them while they are here," she says.

Why can't everything be as simple as that? It can - and it starts by stripping away any insecurities and jealousies that consume us all too often.

You know what they say: actions speak louder than words. So the next time you want to tell your good friend that "you hope they feel better," you might want to think again. Bring them their favorite soup, dvd, or anything at all that reminds you of them. Oh, and do it because you actually care.

You can thank me later.