What would you do?

   You are walking by the water’s edge and you suddenly realize that someone is in the middle of the pond and they are drowning. But for whatever reason, this person is not screaming for help as one might expect of someone in this situation, but only continues to struggle on their own to survive, flapping their arms and kicking their feet in an effort to keep their head above water.  Is it because of personal pride?  Fear?  Embarrassment?  Need for control?  Or do they really not know how to ask for help? Do they not really know they are in the middle of a pond and drowning?

      You continue to watch for a minute or two longer and realize that perhaps you should do something.  But what?  Are you afraid to help because you don’t know what to do?  Can you put your own pride and ambitions aside and offer to help as best you can? Do you shout out to them…asking if they need help or assistance. Do you throw them a life line? Do you jump into the pond yourself and then suddenly realize you don’t know how to swim? Do you ask someone else to help you?  Or do you just turn your back and walk away and hope they are able to survive on their own or that someone else will come to the rescue?

      Someone desperately needs your help although they may not realize it themselves yet.  Please do the right thing and offer that help before it is too late. It may not be well received at first, even a bit painful perhaps. Someone may not initially grab at the lifeline you throw.  But in the end they may come to understand and realize that you were  really trying to help them and you and they will know that you were able to make a person’s life just a little bit better.