Greg Mortenson's Granny, Mark 10:43 and Words from the Wise

World renowned humanitarian and bestselling author Greg Mortenson lives by the words of his grandmother.

"Do one good deed a day — it becomes habit."

If it worked for my man, G-Mort, that works for me! (Although it's probably a whole lot harder than it sounds)

Here's another good place to start. This is some scripture that's taped to my desk:

Mark 10:43: "Whoever wants to become great amount you must be your servant and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve — and give his life as a ransom for many." 

Serving others seems to be a very important lesson in the Bible. Duly noted.

What about Mother Teresa? Surely she had something to say about doing good unto others? Surely she has words to encourage a gal on a quest to make good deeds a daily routine! Let's give it up for Mother Teresa, who said:

"We can do no great things — only small things with great love."

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world."

"If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one."

"There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread, but there are many more dying for a little love."

Believe it or not, words of wisdom also comes from one of our family's favorite movies, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Willy Wonka himself says:

"So shines a good deed in a weary world."

And of course, Martin Luther King, Jr., shared words that make me feel very differently about the guy I see standing at the corner of Park Street and the I-95 exit each morning on our way to school. Will this experiment help me to act on an obvious need? WWMLKJrD?

"The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was, 'If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?' But...the good Samaratin reversed the question: 'If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?'"

So much food for thought. More on Day Two of the Countdown.