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It is important that we are always kind and loving towards others because
our kind acts may be enough to encourage and strengthen that one person
that we come into contact with. If the enemy has been telling you to only
worry about yourself and not be caring towards others, then I hope this
message reinforces God's commandment in your life to Love your neighbor as
yourself. (Galatians 5:14)
I hope as you read today's message you will also see how the act of being
kind and compassionate towards others will never be forgotten by the recipient.
THE THREE MARBLES
During the waning years of the Depression in a small southeastern Idaho
community, I used to stop by Brother Miller's roadside stand for farm-
fresh produce as the season made it available. Food and money were still
extremely scarce and bartering was used extensively.
One particular day Brother Miller was bagging some early potatoes for me.
I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean,
hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my
potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas.
I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I
couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Brother Miller and the
ragged boy next to me.
"Hello Barry, how are you today?"
"H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' the peas...sure look good."
"They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?"
"Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time."
"Good. Anything I can help you with?"
"No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas."
"Would you like to take some home?"
"No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with."
"Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?"
"All I got's my prize marble here."
"Is that right? Let me see it."
"Here 'tis. She's a dandy."
"I can see that. Hmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for
red. Do you have a red one like this at home?"
"Not 'zackley...but, almost."
"Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way
let me look at that red marble."
"Sure will. Thanks, Mr. Miller."
Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a
smile she said: "There are two other boys like him in our community. All
three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them
for peas, apples, tomatoes or whatever. When they come back with their red
marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and
he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange
one, perhaps."
I left the stand, smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time
later I moved to Utah but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys
and their bartering.
Several years went by each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently
I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while
I was there learned that Brother Miller had died.
They were having his viewing that evening and knowing my friends wanted to
go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon our arrival at the mortuary we fell
into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words
of comfort we could.
Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and
the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...very
professional looking.
They approached Mrs. Miller, standing smiling and composed, by her
husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the
cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket.
Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man
stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in
the casket. Each left the mortuary, awkwardly wiping his eyes.
Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and mentioned the
story she had told me about the marbles. Eyes glistening she took my hand
and led me to the casket.
"Those three young men that just left were the boys I told you about. They
just told me how they appreciated the things Jim "traded" them. Now, at
last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size...they came
to pay their debt.
"We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world," she confided,
"but, right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho."
With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased
husband. Resting underneath were three, magnificently shiny, red marbles.
By W. E. Petersen
Our positive impact on others is sure to be rewarded in this life and the
new life to come. I encourage you to never feel as if your good deeds are
all in vain. The Bible says that God has a book filled with all of your
works and will on the Day of Judgment make them known to you. My prayer is
that every person standing before God on that Awesome Day will have their
book filled with the kind acts and deeds that they did while they were on
the Earth showing the Love of God freely towards everyone they came into
contact with. (Matthew 10:7-8) (1 Corinthians 15:58) (Revelation 20:11-12)
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Galatians 6:9-10 "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season
we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do
good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."
Philippians 2:14-16 "Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That
ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the
midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in
the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day
of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain."
Matthew 5:44-46 Jesus declares, "…Love your enemies, bless them that curse
you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully
use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father
which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the
good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them
which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?"
Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus says, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is
set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it
under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that
are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see
your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
All scriptures can be found in the King James Version.
Today's Selected Poem: WISDOM OF THE SOUL
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem182.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: SEEING THE LIGHT THROUGH DARKNESS
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony198.htm
In Christ's Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry |
