Image by Tim Green aka atoach via Flickr“God helps those who help themselves.” Not really. I will recant that if someone can point me to the verse in the Bible that says that, but I know it’s not there. So where did this popular saying come from? Thanks to my Facebook and Twitter friend Shila Laing, it comes from a fable, which you can read here, but I’ve also included it below.
Aesop for Children (1919)
HERCULES AND THE WAGONER
A Farmer was driving his wagon along a miry country road after a heavy rain. The horses could hardly drag the load through the deep mud, and at last came to a standstill when one of the wheels sank to the hub in a rut.
The farmer climbed down from his seat and stood beside the wagon looking at it but without making the least effort to get it out of the rut. All he did was to curse his bad luck and call loudly on Hercules to come to his aid. Then, it is said, Hercules really did appear, saying:
“Put your shoulder to the wheel, man, and urge on your horses. Do you think you can move the wagon by simply looking at it and whining about it? Hercules will not help unless you make some effort to help yourself.”
And when the farmer put his shoulder to the wheel and urged on the horses, the wagon moved very readily, and soon the Farmer was riding along in great content and with a good lesson learned.
Self help is the best help.
Heaven helps those who help themselves.
Last weekend, I decided that I’d been working so hard and I needed help. I was coming to the end of my endurance, the end of my ability to take care of everything on my own. So… I took matters into my own hands and “helped myself.” I hired my first employee to help take some tasks off of my hands.
I don’t have a picture of her, yet, but I’d like to introduce you to Nicole, my new personal assistant. Nicole will begin by helping write soap and correspond with customers. She’s already enthusiastically asked about working shows with me, and as she grows into her position and responsibilities, I’m confident that she’ll be able to take on more duties with that same enthusiasm and go-get-’em! attitude.
Have you been in a position to hire some help? How did that work out for you?
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