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There are many people in this world who are down and depressed because of
the trials of life and need to be supported to get back up and continue on.
Whether we realize it or not, we each have the ability to lend support by
our positive words and actions to help lift up and strengthen those who are
discouraged. The Bible tells us in Romans 12:10 "Be kindly affectioned one
to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another." As
children of the Lord, we are to be an example of Christ's love and are
called to intervene and take the initiative to be helpful and supportive
even if it's in the simplest way. Showing a simple act of love may only
take us a few moments, but the impact towards the recipient is sure to
leave a mark that can never be erased. (Acts 20:35) (1 Thessalonians 5:11-15)
I hope you are blessed and inspired by today's message.
A KIND WORD
A successful businessman, addressing the commercial club of his city, told
a story in his after-dinner speech. It was the story of a boy named Jim,
who was an orphan and the laughing stock of the whole town. He was twelve
years old, slim and undersized. He never remembered having a kind word
spoken to him in his whole life. He was accustomed to harsh words,
suspicion, and rebuffs, and as a result became a shrinking, pitiful little
figure, dodging people. And the more he dodged people, the more suspicious
they became.
The only earthly possession of which Jim could boast was a dog that cringed
and shrank almost as much as his master and was as much hated. Jim was not
cruel to his dog except in words - and that is really the worst form of
cruelty, even to a dog. A harsh, unkind word can cause more misery,
heartache, and anguish than actual physical cruelty. A cruel, unkind tongue
cuts like a sword.
One day as Jim walked down the street, he saw a bundle slip from the
overloaded arms of a little lady just in front of him. As she stooped to
pick it up, the others rolled down. Jim sprang to her assistance, gathering
up the bundles and replacing them in her arms. "Thank you, dear; you are a
nice little boy," she said kindly, and went on her way after giving him a
bright smile.
Jim was amazed; a queer choky feeling passed over him. These were the first
kind words he had ever heard in his whole twelve years of existence. He
stood and stared after her. He knew that she was the busy little dressmaker
who lived in a small cottage on the outskirts of town. He watched her until
she was out of sight, then he whistled to Tige and made straight for the
woods and a stream that wound around the town.
He sat down on the bank of the stream and did some thinking. "Thank you,
dear; you are a nice little boy," he pondered.
"Come here, Tige," he commanded, and Tige slunk to his feet. Then Jim
lowered his voice in imitation of the little faded lady and said, "You are
a nice little dog." The effect on Tige was electrical. He pricked up his
ears, and if a dog could stand at attention, Tige did. "Uhum! Even a dog
likes it," said Jim. "Well, Tige, I don't blame you; it is nice. I won't
holler at you anymore." Tige wagged his tail joyously.
The boy continued to think, and the dog sat and watched him. Finally the
boy pulled from the odds and ends in his pockets a piece of broken mirror
and looked at himself. He saw nothing but grime and dirt, the accumulation
of many days. He went down to the water's edge and scrubbed it off
carefully, almost painfully. Then he looked again. He scarcely recognized
himself. He was surprised. He stood erect and looked up instead of down for
the first time since he could remember. He distinctly liked the sensation.
A feeling of self-respect awoke within his being. Ambition sprang full-
grown into life. At that moment the course of his life was changed; a
determination to be worthy of the kind words spoken to him by the little
dress maker, and to pass them on, took possession of his soul.
After telling this story of Jim, the orphan boy, the speaker paused; and
then he electrified the audience by saying, "Gentlemen, I was that boy.
This city--your city, my city--was that little town of forty years ago. Our
plant stands upon the spot where that gentle woman stood when she implanted
in my life the first seed of kindness. She sleeps out yonder in what was
then the cemetery of a country church. As a tribute to her memory I have
told you this story."
Oh, that all of us would learn the lesson: "Be ye kind." What transforming
power it has!
By Adlai Albert Esteb
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Ephesians 4:29-32 "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth,
but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace
unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are
sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and
anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all
malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
Galatians 6:2-4 "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of
Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he
deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall
he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another."
Romans 15:1-4 "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the
weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour
for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not Himself; but, as
it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on Me. For
whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning,
that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem84.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: HE WANTED ME
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony88.htm
In Christ's Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry |
