Helping Out

Posted on July 24, 2024 by mitchteemley

Little Boy Helping Bunnies

Is there anything more useless than when children “help”? And yet they do help us. True, we help them to become adults, but more importantly, they help us to become children again.

Which is what it means to be truly human.

When asked why he wrote for children, Kenneth Grahame, author of The Wind in the Willows, wrote,

“Because they are the only really living people.”

≅

About mitchteemley

Writer, Filmmaker, Humorist, Thinker-about-stuffer
This entry was posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Quips and Quotes and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

34 Responses to Helping Out

  1. gpavants says:
    July 24, 2024 at 11:46 am

    Help! Help! So selfish.

    Gary Avants Forbear Productions * *garyavants66@gmail.com garyavants66@gmail.com

    Reply
  2. wordancerblog says:
    July 24, 2024 at 12:03 pm

    I absolutely love this photo, Mitch! I remember it from when you posted it in a group of photos. I saved it and had it as my screensaver for a long time. It is so hopeful about the state of humanity. And I need that reminder daily – sometimes hourly!

    Reply
  3. Todd R says:
    July 24, 2024 at 12:24 pm

    We had a cat named Phoebe, who would often try to “help”, such as playing with sheets when we’re trying to make beds. Now we call unhelpful helping “Phoebe helping”. It’s the thought that counts sometimes.

    Reply
  4. newt50 says:
    July 24, 2024 at 12:29 pm

    This photograph really touched my heart. Thanks for sharing it.

    Reply
  5. Erika says:
    July 24, 2024 at 2:01 pm

    They look at everything with a different mind – or actually, without a mind but with an open heart. We should look at the world with a child’s heart.

    Reply
  6. joynealkidney says:
    July 24, 2024 at 2:06 pm

    Just dear!

    Reply
  7. Liz Gauffreau says:
    July 24, 2024 at 2:46 pm

    I love the Kenneth Grahame quote!

    Reply
  8. Dana at Regular Girl Devos says:
    July 24, 2024 at 2:52 pm

    After reading that great quote by Grahame, I wondered if, as adults, we could ever get back to the “really living” roots of our childhood?

    Reply
  9. Nancy Homlitas says:
    July 24, 2024 at 3:32 pm

    I was attempting to grow up and “act my age,” but then my grandchildren came along. 🙂

    Reply
  10. Ab says:
    July 24, 2024 at 5:30 pm

    That’s what I enjoy and appreciate the most about being a parent, living and seeing life through the wondrous eyes of a child.

    Reply
  11. trE says:
    July 24, 2024 at 7:44 pm

    That quote is the absolute best quote about children!

    Reply
  12. thomasstigwikman says:
    July 24, 2024 at 10:51 pm

    It is a beautiful post and a beautiful photo

    Reply
  13. sandysbookaday says:
    July 25, 2024 at 12:27 am

    Kenneth Graham is indeed right. Children have no agendas, no prejudices.

    Reply
  14. קרה אהרן says:
    July 25, 2024 at 4:27 pm

    Great picture

    Reply
  15. Susanne Matthews says:
    July 26, 2024 at 7:54 am

    Love that picture.

    Reply
  16. Christina Amery says:
    July 26, 2024 at 8:26 am

    I love this. Reminds me of when my kids were young and wanted to help. It took twice as long to do half as much, but they were so proud of themselves. Warms my heart to this day. Great reminder, Mitch.

    Reply

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  18. Jennie says:
    July 28, 2024 at 12:16 pm

    I love this!

    Reply
  19. wordsfromanneli says:
    July 28, 2024 at 12:41 pm

    Sweet picture.

    Reply
  20. Darlene says:
    July 28, 2024 at 5:00 pm

    The picture and the quote are perfect! Thanks.

    Reply
  21. petespringerauthor says:
    July 28, 2024 at 11:13 pm

    I say yes every time even though it will likely lake twice as long with their “help.” It teaches them that their is always value in lending a hand.

    Reply
  22. CarolCooks2 says:
    July 29, 2024 at 10:20 pm

    It’s that “Awwww” moment ..what a delightful image x

    Reply

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  24. The Oceanside Animals says:
    July 30, 2024 at 9:32 pm

    Charlee: “Our Dada says it’s pretty useless when we try to help too, by like, you know, sleeping on the clean laundry or whatever.”
    Chaplin: “He just doesn’t appreciate good helping is all.”

    Reply

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