Small deeds mean a lot

By NELLY FAVIS-VILLAFUERTE

MANILA, Philippines — In many export companies as well as in other companies, some employees feel bad when they are treated as ‘second class citizens.’ Especially messengers, clerks, xerox operators, telephone operators and other employees whose positions are below those holding the rank of officers.

These employees feel that they are not treated with respect. That they are not even thanked for the simple deeds they are doing. That they are not even given little presents at Christmas.

But this is not the case with those employees who worked for long years with companies and worked their way up through the organization, eventually becoming officers of the company. Most of these employees who rose from the ranks understand what it feels to be treated ‘small’ in a company.

They went through the harrowing experience of being looked down by the officers of the company. But they are also the people in the organization once they rose to higher positions who make it a point to acknowledge the support in small ways and small deeds of employees with ranks below officers.

Because they never forgot their roots. They are those who sincerely show their respect and gratitude to the employees, regardless of rank. They are the ones who truly appreciate good deeds no matter how small.

Let me share with you a story from the Aesop’s fables. Aesop’s fables (short instructive tales) were meant to remind adults about proper behavior. As many of us know, Aesop was born as a slave. He was a hunchback with speech impediment but was an intelligent man. His master eventually granted Aesop his freedom. As a free man, Aesop gained a reputation as a wise and intelligent man.

Let me reproduce one of Aesop’s fables titled “The Lion and the Mouse” to highlight the value of small deeds. The story is from the book authored by David C. Noonan. The story goes:

“A man ran across the head of a sleeping lion and woke him. With a quick swipe of his paw, the lion scooped up the mouse and roared his displeasure.

“Please don’t eat me. I meant no harm,” the mouse squeaked. “If you let me go, I’ll repay your kindness someday.”

“The idea of so insignificant a creature ever being able to help the king of beasts so amused the lion that he good-naturedly let the mouse go.

“Soon afterward, the lion went prowling for dinner and got caught in a hunter’s net. Unable to move, the lion let out a roar of frustration. The mouse heard and recognized the lion’s voice, and he scampered to aid the captured beast.

“Your Majesty,” the mouse politely said, “let me now be of service to you.”

“The mouse gnawed at the netting with his tiny teeth until he made a hole big enough for the lion to escape.”

This ancient fable has not lost its valuable moral message through all these years.