We should never allow ourselves to miss the opportunity of investing our
time in the lives of those around us. We are to realize that it is in 
helping and caring for those who are near to us that the true blessing of
life is found. Jesus made it simple when He said “by this shall all men 
know that you are My disciples if you have Love one to another.” The
impact that will be left because of our positive reinforcements will 
ripple through the years to come reminding those who were blessed of our
contribution to their betterment. What a wonderful feeling it is to know
that you have changed someone else's life for the better. Be encouraged to
experience it for yourself if you have not done so before. (1 John 4:10-12)

This is a good story that encouraged my heart to continually do good works
because the impact will be felt far longer than we may even remember.


THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME

It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, 
career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across
the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life,
Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend 
with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could 
stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, “Mr. Belser died last night. The 
funeral is Wednesday.” Memories flashed through his mind like an old 
newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days. “Jack, did you
hear me?”

“Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of 
him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago,” Jack said.

“Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were 
doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the
fence' as he put it,” Mom told him.

“I loved that old house he lived in,” Jack said.

“You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure
you had a man's influence in your life,” she said.

“He's the one who taught me carpentry,” he said. “I wouldn't be in this 
business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things
he thought were important...Mom, I'll be there for the funeral,” Jack said.

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his 
hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children
of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see
the old house next door one more time.

Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing 
over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was
exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every 
piece of furniture...Jack stopped suddenly.

“What's wrong, Jack?” his Mom asked.

“The box is gone,” he said.

“What box?” Mom asked.

“There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must
have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was
'the thing I value most,'” Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it,
except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.
“Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him,” Jack said. “I better get
some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom.”

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from 
work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. “Signature required on
a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the
next three days,” the note read.

Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and 
looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was 
difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. “Mr. 
Harold Belser” it read.

Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside
was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note 
inside.

“Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett.
It's the thing I valued most in my life.” A small key was taped to the 
letter. His heart racing, as tears filled his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked
the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.

Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the
cover. Inside he found these words engraved:

“Jack, Thanks for your time! Harold Belser.” “The thing he valued 
most...was...my time”, Jack thought.

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared
his appointments for the next two days. “Why?” Janet, his assistant asked.
“I need some time to spend with my son,” he said.

“Oh, by the way, Janet...thanks for your time!”

By Bob Perks


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

1 John 4:10-12 “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved
us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God
so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at 
any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is 
perfected in us.”

Romans 12:9-10 “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is
evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another
with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.”

Luke 9:48 Jesus declares “...Whosoever shall receive this child in My name
receiveth Me: and whosoever shall receive Me receiveth Him that sent Me: 
for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.”

All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.


Today’s Selected Poem: REACHING OUT
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem153.htm

Today’s Selected Testimony: TESTIMONY OF GOD'S LOVE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony150.htm


In Christ’s Service, 

Dwayne Savaya 
Gods Work Ministry