There’s an old expression that goes something like this: “no good deed goes unpunished.” What it means is that sometimes when you try to help someone, it’s unappreciated or worse, even insulted. Basically, the expression is a sardonic commentary on how often acts of kindness backfire on the folks who offer them. I think we’ve all been in this situation and yet I’m always amazed at the audacity that human beings can be capable of. Perhaps the problem comes in when people start to feel entitled. Anytime someone begins to feel entitled about a benefit they’ve been receiving, you run the chance of entering in the realm of “no good deed going unpunished.” The quote has been attributed to several people, including the famous banker Andrew Mellon, as well as the writer Oscar Wilde. The story below drives the point home perfectly.
There was a man who worked for the Post Office whose job it was to process all the mail that had illegible addresses.
One day, a letter came addressed in a shaky handwriting to God with no actual address. He thought he should open it to see what it was about.
The letter read:
Dear God,
I am an 83-year-old widow, living on a very small pension. Yesterday someone stole my purse. It had $100 in it, which was all the money I had until my next pension check.
Next Sunday is Christmas, and I had invited two of my friends over for dinner. Without that money, I have nothing to buy food with. I have no family to turn to, and you are my only hope.
Can you please help me?
Sincerely, Edna
The postal worker was touched. He showed the letter to all the other workers. Each one dug into his or her wallet and came up with a few dollars. By the time he made the rounds, he had collected $96, which put into an envelope and sent to the woman.
The rest of the day, all the workers felt a warm glow thinking of Edna and the dinner she would be able to share with her friends.
Then Christmas came and went.
A few days later, another letter came from the same old lady to God. All the workers gathered around while the letter was opened.
It read,
Dear God,
How can I ever thank you enough for what you did for me? Because of your gift of love, I was able to fix a glorious dinner for my friends. We had a very nice day and I told my friends of your wonderful gift.
By the way, there was $4 missing.
I think it must have been those bastards at the Post Office!
