An effort made for the happiness of others lifts above ourselves.

"An effort made for the happiness of others lifts above ourselves." Thus wrote Lydia M. Child, a woman of wisdom and compassion, whose pen carried the power of conscience and the light of the human spirit. In this simple but eternal truth, she reveals the secret alchemy of love—that when we labor not for gain, nor praise, nor pride, but for the happiness of others, we transcend the small boundaries of self and touch the divine. Her words echo through time like a bell of kindness, reminding us that the highest elevation of the soul is not achieved by conquest or wealth, but by service born of love.

In her life, Lydia Maria Child lived what she taught. She was a voice of courage in the nineteenth century, a champion of abolition, women’s rights, and human dignity. In an age when it was dangerous to speak against injustice, she spoke; when it was easy to turn away from the suffering of others, she acted. She knew that the act of striving for another’s joy or freedom does more than heal the world—it lifts the one who gives. Her compassion became her wings, raising her above fear, selfishness, and indifference. Thus, when she wrote these words, they were not mere sentiment—they were the distilled wisdom of a life lived in service of something greater than the self.

At the heart of this saying lies a law of the spirit: that to give is to grow, and to serve is to become free. Many seek happiness in the pursuit of their own desires, but true joy cannot be caught by the grasping hand. It blooms only in the open palm that offers. When we turn our strength toward the well-being of others, our hearts expand; our perspective widens; our sorrows lose their sting. To make an effort for another’s happiness is to align ourselves with the divine harmony that threads through all creation. It is to participate in the eternal rhythm of compassion, where giver and receiver are blessed alike.

Consider the life of Florence Nightingale, who walked into the darkness of war not seeking glory, but the relief of the wounded. Amid blood and chaos, her light became a symbol of mercy. Her ceaseless effort for the happiness of others—for their comfort, their healing, their dignity—did not diminish her, but exalted her. She found strength not in privilege or ease, but in purpose. By serving others, she rose beyond the ordinary bounds of human fear and frailty. Her life, like Child’s words, proves that selfless labor transforms both the world and the one who performs it.

Even in the ancient world, this truth was known. The sages of Greece and the prophets of the East taught that to serve others is to purify the soul. Aristotle called it eudaimonia—the fulfillment found in living virtuously and contributing to the good of the whole. Buddha taught that compassion is the path to enlightenment, for in easing the suffering of others, we dissolve the illusion of separateness. And in every age since, those who have lifted their hands to help another have found that they themselves are lifted higher still. Lydia M. Child stands among these timeless voices, her words a bridge between ancient wisdom and the modern heart.

To lift above ourselves is to break free from the narrow prison of ego, to awaken to the truth that we are all bound by the same breath of life. When we love, we rise. When we give, we are given more. The joy that comes from generosity is not shallow or fleeting—it is a deep, radiant peace that fills the soul. Each act of kindness, each small effort to bring light where there is darkness, draws us nearer to our highest nature. In such moments, we glimpse what it means to be truly human—not creatures of desire, but vessels of compassion.

So, my children of tomorrow, let this teaching take root in your hearts. Seek not greatness through wealth, nor happiness through indulgence, but through service. Each day, ask yourself: “Whose burden can I lighten? Whose sorrow can I ease? Whose path can I make brighter?” Begin small—smile at the weary, listen to the forgotten, give to the poor, comfort the fearful. For every act of love, no matter how humble, will raise your spirit closer to the heavens.

And remember always the wisdom of Lydia M. Child: that when we make an effort for the happiness of others, we are not lowering ourselves in sacrifice—we are rising, ascending into our noblest form. For to lift another is to lift ourselves, and in the gentle work of compassion, the human soul finds its wings.