Overview

We all remember Mother Teresa and her selfless dedication to show care and concern. What motivates people like her to go out of their way to help others? Is it really important to care for others? How can we really help? We will explore these in this section.

" I shall pass this way but once
Any good that I can do
Any kindness I can show
To any human being
Let me do it now
Let me not defer nor neglect
For I shall not pass this way again."

William Penn

Should I care?

   Care and concern is an important quality in character education. All of us should practice care and concern. We should show care to others, especially to the people we know. Even if we do not know the person, we can also show concern. For example, if you see an old lady trying to cross the road, why not go and help her? It would not cost you anything, you have nothing to lose. Your little gesture of kindness could mean a lot to the old lady. What about if one of your schoolmate has severe health problem and has to seek treatment in the hospital. You do not know him at all, but would you donate some money to help him? Why not, you could just donate a little bit of money, and if everyone else showed care and concern, the "little bit of money" would be enough to help him.

     Now, if you show care and concern, what is your reason for doing it. Is it because of legal reason, religious reason, social reason, vocational reason or compassionate reason? If your main reason for showing care and concern is because of legal or vocational reason, then you are wrong, we should show care willingly, not because the laws says so or because our job needs to or because Stone Cold said so. :o) . On the other hand if you main reason for showing concern is due to social or compassionate reason, keep it up. The world is lucky to have you around.  

     We are all human beings and we show treat one another with respect. Show you care about others through kindness, caring, sharing and compassion. Live by the Golden Rule. Help others. Don't be selfish. Don't be mean, cruel or insensitive to other's feelings. Be charitable. Trust me, showing care and concern won't do you any harm, it would just make you a better person.

Some Stories on Care

Mother Teresa : Never too Old to Care for Others 

     One evening in 1945, Teresa stepped out of a posh Shanghai hotel and met a man all yellow, starved, skinny and barely able to hold himself up, who asked her for a few cents.

     She said, I thought to myself, if all men are created by the same Being, this man is my brother. What was I doing inside there having a huge meal amid all that splendor when my brother was suffering?

     Teresa gave up her all to set up the Home for the Aged Sick. When mother Teresa died in 1998, many people in the world mourn for her. However, Mother Teresa's works are still continued by others, her sprits stills live on.

Gandhi's Act of Kindness 

     As Gandhi stepped aboard a train one day, one of his sandals slipped off and landed on the track. As the train was moving, he was unable to retrieve it. So Gandhi calmly took off his other sandal and threw it back along the track close to the first sandal. When asked why he did it, Gandhi smiled and replied: The poor man who finds the sandals on the track will now have a pair that he can wear.

     Gandhi's example was cited as one of the simple, daily acts of kindness Singaporeans could emulate as part of the Small Kindness Movement to encourage Singaporeans to be caring and considerate.
     You might think what Gandhi was stupid, but in fact it is not. Gandhi knew that he couldn't get back the sandal, so what's the point in keeping the other one. So, by throwing out the sandals, Gandhi showed care and concern to someone he did not even know or seen before. 

The Caring Quiz  

Take the flash quiz to find out how caring you are. You need the flash 5 plug in to view the quiz.