Whats in it for me ?

It was a valedictory celebration for the 3 month women tailor training centre which the church helped set up in 2019 and it looked like it was a success but I heard one of the organizers say "We haven't got any credit doing this. The trainer has got all the credit so we have to discontinue" 

 When I was preparing to set up a tailoring centre by giving jobs for the differently abled women during covid 2021, my friend accompanying me during the purchase trip asked me, "You are taking time and doing so much for them. Do you think the people will be grateful for this?" 

A couple of years back, during a womens day sports event I noticed that the gifts I had sponsored for the differently abled winners were being distributed by the local M.L.A Arvind Ramesh.

I usually plan the Christmas program for the differently abled the last Friday before Christmas. For the year 2023 as well it was planned on that day and on the expected time I was on the place of the event and was stunned to see no one turn up. On calling them, they casually told me that I had planned it on the following day (Saturday) and dishonesty mentioned that I do it every year on a Saturday. There were 150 food packets ordered and it was embarrassing to call the catering company, my volunteering friends and the blind pastor that it was postponed to the next day. The blind pastor who was supposed to share the word of God advised me that it was clear I am being taken for a ride. 

 "You should start an organization, have a big banner on stage and share flyers. Then only people will know that you are behind this" He advised and I obviously wasn't interested.

 "What do you get by setting up this centre?" asked Anitha, one of the the women. I responded that I do it for "Jesus Christ" and if at all I expect a reward from Him.

Any other expectation is bound to leave you betrayed and disappointed. The answer seems simple but when you read the Bible in Matthew 25 31-46 Jesus expects us to help the hungry, thirsty, welcome foreigners, cloth the naked and visit prisoners and finally with a mention of whatever you do to the "one of the least of these" you do it unto me (Jesus).

Honestly, I have received a lot more - freedom from focusing too much on myself and being depressed, getting a healthy lifestyle by bicycling to their places and back and most importantly getting upskilled with love and compassion.