Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Don't Show Me, Show Me the World

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall,
Don't Show Me, Show Me the World
Not long ago, I read a beautiful story about a young man with very little money but dreams of a brighter future.
Despite living in a very modest home, he was so generous to everyone around him with both his time and possessions. He especially cared deeply for others in need.
He would sometimes give away everything that he had with the belief that HaShem would set things right and that he would be looked after as long as he was helping and doing for others. Thereby he was living a life of receiving in order to give.
He gave people his time, love, and patience. He listened to their stories carefully and showed a lot of sympathy and compassion. The people loved him and he loved them back quite sincerely.
As he grew and moved forward in life, his situation and status changed drastically. He started earning more and more money to the point that he became extremely wealthy and had virtually everything he could have ever imagined.
He built an elegant mansion complete with servants fawning all over him. He furnished his mansion with costly works of art and beautiful furniture. He also had a mirror installed on one of the windows. He would sit in front of the mirror and admire himself dressed in all his finery. He would also marvel at the reflection of the pricey and expensive furniture he had meticulously chosen to compliment his home.
The reflection in the mirror made him feel good about himself.
Gradually, he changed. He was no longer in contact with his neighbours and friends. He begrudgingly helped people even though he had promised himself that he would devote his life to helping the poor and needy if he ever became a rich man. He gradually forgot about them and was now mixing with an entirely different group of people. The company he kept only had interest in themselves and their own needs alone. Yes, he had plenty of friends, whether you call them real friends or not, but in actual fact, he had become quite a lonely man.
...
With tears rolling down his face he said, “You are a hundred percent right my friends and I am so grateful to you for telling me this. My life has become empty and meaningless. I have forgotten all about these people. I have forgotten all about my friends. I have forgotten how I used to live. I had to hear these words in order to welcome HaShem back into my life.
Soon, he opened up his house to the needy and poor and started helping them generously. He invited people into his house and had dinners with them treating them with the same hospitality that he had had before. He began feeling better instantaneously and continued to flourish until the day he died.
Fast forward to today, we are now living in times where many people have insecurities. They are not earning money. Their businesses have closed down. An enormous number of people are not receiving rents from their tenants. They do not know what will happen to the prices afterwards. They do not know whether they will ever recover or not. They do not what will happen, once everything opens up again, and how will they face it.
... The only way we can all cure our isolation and loneliness is to help other people.
How do you help them?
You lift up the phone and call at least three or four people a day and spend quality time with them. You ask them how they are doing, you encourage them and build them up. That is how you should help them. It does not cost you any money, but you are still giving away to charity. You are giving away ten percent of your time. The more you give the better... Read more coming soon on soulsecret.com