how does one deal with those who seek only their own well-being, who are always dissatisfied, who seem to never put the needs of others ahead of their own needs? this is the problem i face with a close family member. i see my loved one's unhappiness in never having enough of anything, as they look incessantly for new things to buy. i see the unhappiness in coming to the end of each day as my loved one says, "this was a terrible day." yet i seem powerless to help this family member.
this morning as i spent time in prayer and meditation, my thoughts kept returning to this person that i love, this person whose thinking is filled with "if only this or that would happen, i would be happy." my resolve today is redouble my efforts to show this dear one love, to work to live a life of service and happiness myself in the hope that my loved one will see that happiness is possible when one lets go of the need to possess and to enjoy each moment as it comes. i can't take responsibility for this one's happiness, but i can only do what is within my power to relieve her suffering.
my prayer for each of us this day is that we don't allow the suffering of others to pull us away from a life of service that brings joy to us, that we work to relieve suffering, not by taking responsibility that belongs to another, but by showing that is possible to let go of our own selfish desires and find the path to happiness through service.
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