106 Sermon Illustrations on Kindness

"I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness or abilities that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."

-- William Penn, Words for All Occasions by Glenn van Ekeren

“Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel in order to be tough."

-- Franklin Delano Roosevelt

“Kindness is a language the dumb can speak and the deaf can hear and understand."

-- Christian Nestell Bovee

“The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love."

-- William Wordsworth

“A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles.

-- Washington Irving

“Kindness is loving people more than they deserve."

-- Joseph Joubert

“We hate the kindness which we understand."

-- Henry David Thoreau

“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late."

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

“He that has done you a kindness will be more ready to do you another, than he whom you yourself have obliged."

-- Benjamin Franklin

“Kindness goes a long ways lots of times when it ought to stay at home."

-- Kin Hubbard

“Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind." And the third is to be kind."

-- Henry James

“You have it easily in your power to increase the sum total of this world's happiness now. How? By giving a few words of sincere appreciation to someone who is lonely or discouraged. Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime."

-- Dale Carnegie

“You will regret many things in life but you will never regret being too kind or too fair."

-- Brian Tracy

“Be kind and merciful. Let no one ever come to you without coming away better and happier."

-- Mother Teresa (1910-1997), Catholic missionary

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."

-- Mother Teresa, Catholic missionary (Bits & Pieces)

“A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person."

-- Dave Barry, humorist

“Kind words and good deeds are eternal. You never know where their influence will end."

-- H. Jackson Browne

“On the whole, my impression is that mercy bears richer fruits than any other attribute."

-- Abraham Lincoln

“When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people."

-- Abraham Heschel (1907-1972), theologian and philosopher, B&P

“You cannot do a kindness too soon, because you never know how soon it will be too late."

-- (unknown); cited in The Best of BITS & PIECES

“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love."

-- Lao-Tzu (sixth-century B.C. Chinese philosopher)

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

-- Plato (c. 427-347 B.C.), Greek philosopher

“The kinder and more thoughtful a person is, the more kindness they can find in other people.”

-- Leo Tolstoy, 1828-1910, Novelist and Philosopher

“More people have been brought into the church by the kindness of real Christian love than by all the theological arguments in the world.”

-- William Barclay

Do our busy schedules leave room for the Spirit's gentle nudges?

Fred Wevodua rushed past a gospel signboard-toting older gentleman in Atlanta's Hartsfield airport. The man had a decidedly 1950's look and the sign said, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Fred felt guilty for not interacting with him but he was late for a presentation on missions in Russia. Wevodua rationalized by saying the gentleman's method was ineffective for our culture. But he felt so guilty he retraced his steps through the terminal to find the man. He was gone. The following week in his Sunday School class he shared the story, only to be interrupted by one of his students who also saw the gentleman and gave him some money.

Fred concluded that God will marshal the resources of His people to meet needs that we may overlook, but also that we need to be sensitive to God and open to "divine interruptions." Opportunities for ministry are all around us.

Henry Drummond wrote:

"I shall pass through this world but once. Any good thing,

therefore, that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to

any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect

it, for I shall not pass this way again."

Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed that the boy ahead of him had tripped and dropped all the books he was carrying, along with two sweaters, a baseball bat, a glove and a small tape recorder. Mark knelt down and helped the boy pick up the scattered articles. Since they were going the same way, he helped to carry part of the burden. As they walked, Mark discovered the boy’s name was Bill, that he loved video games, baseball and history, that he was having a lot of trouble with his other subjects and that he had just broken up with his girlfriend.

Mark went home after dropping Bill at his house. They continued to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, then both graduated from junior high school. They ended up in the same high school, where they had brief contacts over the years. Finally the long-awaited senior year came. Three weeks before graduation, Bill asked Mark if they could talk.

Bill reminded him of the day years ago when they had first met. “Do you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?” asked Bill. “You see, I cleaned out my locker because I didn’t want to leave a mess for anyone else. I had stored away some of my mother’s sleeping pills and I was going home to commit suicide. But after we spent some time together talking and laughing, I realized that if I had killed myself, I would have missed that time and so many others that might follow. So you see, Mark, when you picked up my books that day, you did a lot more. You saved my life.”

A little act of kindness can produce large results.

________

John W. Schlatter, from Condensed Chicken Soup for the Soul, Copyright 1996 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen & Patty Hansen

Once there was a girl in my class that I thought was beautiful and smart. I believed that she was perfect. When it came time for my birthday, I invited her to my party, and she came.

A few months later, it was her birthday. I got a special necklace for her. Thinking about how happy she would be to receive my gift made me so excited.

I asked her when her birthday party was going to be. She replied, "Why do you want to know? You're not invited. You're just a dork with glasses!"

I felt really bad when she said that. I just stood there looking at her. Everyone standing by her came to stand next to me. Then we all left.

That day, I figured out that even if someone looks perfect, there is a very good possibility that they aren't. When it comes to perfection, it's how someone treats you that is more important than how they look.

_________________

Ellie Logan, age 9, from Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul Copyright 1998 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Patty Hansen and Irene Dunlap.

You don't hear much anymore about Roberto DeVincenzo. He was once a tough but far from champion Argentine golfer. Some years back he surprised everybody by winning a tournament. As usual, they gave the winner his check on the eighteenth green. Roberto flashed a smile for the cameras and walked alone to the clubhouse. In back, where his car was parked, a sad-eyed young lady walked up to him. “It's a good day for you,” she said, “but I have a baby with an incurable disease. It's of the blood, and the doctors say she will die.” The golfer paused. In slow English, he said, “May I help your little girl?” The woman's face froze. He took out a pen, endorsed his winning check and pressed it into her hand. “Make some good days for the baby,” he said.

A week later, he was having lunch in a country club when a PGA official approached. “Some of the boys in the parking lot told me you met a young woman after you won the tournament.” DeVincenzo nodded. “Well,” said the official, “I have bad news for you. She's a phony. She has no sick baby. She's not even married. She fleeced you, my friend.” The golfer looked up. “You mean that there is no baby who is dying without hope?” he said. The PGA official said, “that's right.” DeVincenzo grinned and said, “That's the best news I've heard all week!”

*

[Original illustration at this number was added to HolwickID #19164]

Let me be a little kinder,

Let me be a little blinder

To the faults of those about me.

Let me praise a little more.

Let me be, when I am weary,

Just a little bit more cheery;

Let me serve a little better

Those whom I am working for.

Let me be a little braver

When temptation makes me waver;

Let me strive a little harder

To be all that I should be.

Let me be a little meeker

With the person who is weaker;

Let me think more of my neighbor

And a little less of me.

Cited in The Best of BITS & PIECES

John McCain was held in solitary confinement for two years after he was shot down over Hanoi. During much of that time, he had a guard who would enter his cell and order him to bow. When McCain refused, the guard would knock him to the ground. This ritual was repeated almost every morning for two years. McCain has never hated another human being more.

But another guard helped show him the meaning of the religious faith he had casually professed all his life. One evening he had been tied in torture ropes and left alone in an empty room to suffer through the night. Sometime later this guard, whom McCain had never spoken to before, entered the room and silently loosened the ropes to alleviate his suffering. Just before morning, he returned and retightened the ropes before the other guards discovered his kindness.

He never said a word to McCain, but some months later, on a Christmas morning, as McCain stood alone in the prison courtyard, the same good Samaritan walked up to him and stood next to him for a few moments. Then with his sandal he drew a cross in the dirt. Both prisoner and guard stood wordlessly there for a minute or two, venerating the cross, until the guard rubbed it out and walked away. Such experiences are transforming.

John McCain

[shifted from first person to third]

=================

During the 2008 presidential campaign there was some controversy about this story, since McCain did not mention it until 1995 and some have felt it was invented for political purposes. The story is very similar to an experience by Alexander Solzhenitsyn in the Soviet Gulag that is recounted in his book, THE GULAG ARCHIPELAGO. This is a devotional version by Luke Veronis:

Along with other prisoners, he worked in the fields day after

day, in rain and sun, during summer and winter. His life

appeared to be nothing more than backbreaking labor and slow

starvation. The intense suffering reduced him to a state of

despair.

On one particular day, the hopelessness of his situation became

too much for him. He saw no reason to continue his struggle, no

reason to keep on living. His life made no difference in the

world. So he gave up.

Leaving his shovel on the ground, he slowly walked to a crude

bench and sat down. He knew that at any moment a guard would

order him to stand up, and when he failed to respond, the guard

would beat him to death, probably with his own shovel. He had

seen it happen to other prisoners.

As he waited, head down, he felt a presence. Slowly he looked up

and saw a skinny old prisoner squat down beside him. The man

said nothing. Instead, he used a stick to trace in the dirt the

sign of the Cross. The man then got back up and returned to his

work.

As Solzhenitsyn stared at the Cross drawn in the dirt his entire

perspective changed. He knew he was only one man against the

all-powerful Soviet empire. Yet he knew there was something

greater than the evil he saw in the prison camp, something

greater than the Soviet Union. He knew that hope for all people

was represented by that simple Cross. Through the power of the

Cross, anything was possible.

Solzhenitsyn slowly rose to his feet, picked up his shovel, and

went back to work. Outwardly, nothing had changed. Inside, he

had received hope.

McCain has also told a story of a testimony on the prison wall. According to a liberal blogger:

Reagan was Governor of California in 1974, when he invited McCain

to a prayer breakfast in Sacramento. McCain has never been a

particularly reverent guy, but that morning he found himself

telling the silent crowd about a discovery he made when he was

thrown into solitary confinement in a 6-foot by 9-foot hole in

the ground. On the wall was etched a testimony, scratched into

the stone by a previous occupant: “I believe in God, the Father

Almighty,” read the jagged writing. The words sustained him,

McCain told the crowd, through his 2 1/2-year solitude. When he

finished, the audience, including Governor Reagan, was sobbing.

“I realized,” he says now, “it wasn’t really me that moved them.

It was the Story that did it.”

Just after World War II as all the American servicemen were coming home, a sailor called his parents from San Diego. He said he was bringing a buddy home w/ him. "You see Mom," he said, "my friend is in pretty bad shape. He was severely wounded. He only has one arm, one leg, and one eye. So I thought he could come live with us." After a few moments of silence the mother said, "Of course, let him come & stay a little while with us." But from the hesitancy in her voice the sailor realized they would not want to be burdened

with a handicapped person for long. Two days later the parents received a telegram that their son had jumped from a hotel window. When they received the body it had one arm, one leg, and one eye.

Harold Kushner in Who Needs God tells of a short story about the wife of a British colonel in India. She was expecting important guests for tea one afternoon. Looked out from her front porch after lunch & was horrified to see that the man who swept the leaves off her stairs every morning had not shown up for work. When he finally got there, she tore into him. "Don't you realize what you've done to me? Do you know who's coming here in an hour? I ought to fire you and see to it that you don't get another job anywhere in the city!" Without looking up the man said, "I'm sorry. My little girl died during the night and we had to bury her today." For the first time, the colonel's wife began to see this man as something more than just a device that swept her stairs every day. [Harold Kushner, Who Needs God (New York: Summit Books, 1989), p. 100.]

alternate ending:

... bury her today."

For the first time, the colonel's wife was made to see this man not simply as a device for getting her stairs swept but as a human being with a world of needs, pain, relationships to which she had never given thought. Suddenly, he had become a subject, a "thou," a possessor of feelings, rather than an object.

We frequently turn to Abraham Lincoln for examples of the virtues Paul commends. When General Robert E. Lee's surrender was announced in Washington, the city exploded in celebration. On April 10, 1865, delirious crowds stormed the White House, demanding a speech from the President. He told them it was a serious moment and that he had no speech ready for them. But he added, I have always thought "Dixie" one of the best tunes I ever heard. I insisted yesterday that we had fairly captured it. I presented the question to the Attorney General and he gave his opinion that it is our lawful prize. I ask the band to give us a good turn upon it. That was it. He claimed a song. When you think what a more vindictive President Lincoln could have wrung out of the helpless South, you have to praise his generosity. "With malice toward none," he had promised in his second inaugural address; "with charity toward all."

====================================

Version by Rev. Brett Blair:

Love Does Not Compound Guilt

A few years ago I was in Washington, D.C., and I went on a tour of all the traditional sites like the White House, the Smithsonian, the halls of Congress and the Lincoln Memorial. There is something about standing in the Lincoln Memorial and reading the Gettysburg Address and the Second Inaugural Address which gives you goosebumps. One line in the Second Inaugural reminds you what a caring and compassionate man Lincoln was. He was speaking about the coming end of the War and he said: "With malice toward none; With charity for all."

Lincoln put this idea into practice on the day that news arrived in Washington that the war was over. A crowd gathered at the White House and a military band was playing some festive music. Lincoln stood on the balcony of the White House and spoke. Instead of lashing out against the South, he spoke of the horrors of war being over. He spoke of families getting back together. He spoke of a time of peace. Then he said, "In a few moments I want the band to play and I'm going to tell them what I want them to play." Of course, the band started getting the "Battle Hymn of The Republic" ready to play. This had been the theme song of the North throughout the Civil War. But Lincoln crossed them up. He stood there and said: "The band will now play the theme song of the people we have called our enemy. They are not our enemies any more! We are one people again. I want the band to play 'Dixie.' "

Historians say there was a long, awkward pause. The band didn't have the music to "Dixie," but they finally got together and played, "Dixie." Lincoln knew that the South was not only hurting because of the horrors of the war, but also because of the shame which accompanies defeat. Lincoln was sending a clear signal to the South. Lincoln was telling everyone that there would be no punishment upon the South. Lincoln was saying that the South would be treated with love and compassion.

When you love, after the patterns of Jesus, caring and compassion become the cornerstone of your love. Love is not vicious or hostile. Love does not try to compound the guilt. Love doesn't try to rub salt in the wounds of shame.

We become vulnerable when we love people and go out of our way to help them. That's what the wealthy industrialist Charles Schwab declared after going to court and winning a nuisance suit at age 70. Given permission by the judge to speak to the audience, he made the following statement:

“I'd like to say here in a court of law, and speaking as

an old man, that nine-tenths of my troubles are traceable

to my being kind to others. Look, you young people, if

you want to steer away from trouble, be hard-boiled. Be

quick with a good loud no to anyone and everyone. If you

follow this rule, you will seldom be bothered as you

tread life's pathway. Except you'll have no friends,

you'll be lonely, and you won't have any fun!”

Schwab had made his point - love may bring heartache, but it's worth it!

In an article on China in Eternity Magazine, the writer records a story of Christian love and kindness.

“A Chinese cook was put into prison one night. It was bitterly cold -- about 26 degrees below zero. He had on his padded clothes and a big fur coat. But a heathen man who was later thrown in with him had no wraps at all. The Christian man began to pray that God would get him out of prison. While he was praying, it seemed God spoke to him. ‘I won’t hear your prayer until you’ve taken off your fur coat and given it to this man who had none.’ ‘But if I do that, I’ll be frozen to death by morning,’ the man thought. ‘Well, if you don’t,’ he seemed to hear God’s reply, ‘this man will be dead before morning.’ So he took off his fur coat and gave it to the man and his life was saved.

“Later on at a Christian gathering in Communist China, the heathen man who had received the coat got up and gave his testimony. ‘I am here today because a man shared his coat with me in prison.’”

People are in need. People are suffering. The winning of souls to Christ could well depend on how willing we are to share our coat.

The following letter once appeared in an Ann Landers column: "Dear Ann: I was interested in the letter signed `Sizzling in Sioux Falls.' It was from a woman whose husband gave her a dollar for their anniversary and said, `Here, go buy yourself a nice card.' I can top that. I work in a bookstore that handles all sorts of

greeting cards. Last week a man came in with his wife. He smiled at me and said, `Today is my wife's birthday.' He browsed a bit. Selected a pretty card, handed it to her and waited for a reaction. `It's lovely,' she said. The man then took the card out of her hand, placed it back on the rack, and said, `That was your birthday gift this year.' Again he smiled at me and they both left.

The year was 1953. Albert Schweitzer had just returned from his mission work in Africa, where he had received the Nobel Peace Prize. He was arriving in Chicago by train and there were reporters, city officials, and well-wishers waiting for him.

As he stepped off the train, he was greeted by flash bulbs, smiling faces, and a throng of people. But he didn't immediately speak to the waiting crowd. Instead he looked beyond them. He said, “Excuse me just a moment,” and made his way through the crowd. He came to an elderly black lady who was having trouble carrying two suitcases. He walked over and said, “Let me help you, Ma'am.”

He picked up the suitcases, walked with her all the way through the terminal, put the suitcases on a bus, and wished her a nice day. He then turned around to face the reporters and city officials. He said, “Excuse me. I'm sorry I made you wait.”

One of the reporters who was covering his arrival said, “That's the first time I ever saw a sermon walking.”

God is looking for men and women like that. People whose commitment to Jesus impacts everything they do. People who can proclaim Jesus without saying a word.

=================

"Living Example"

edited by Rev. David Lemmons

Reporters and city officials gathered at a Chicago railroad station one afternoon in 1953. The person they were meeting was the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize winner. A few minutes after the train came to a stop, a giant of a man - six feet four inches - with bushy hair and a large mustache stepped from the train. Cameras flashed. City officials approached him with hands outstretched. Various people began telling him how honored they were to meet him.

The man politely thanked them and then, looking over their heads, asked if he could be excused for a moment. He quickly walked through the crowd until he reached the side of an elderly black woman who was struggling with two large suitcases. He picked up the bags and with a smile, escorted the woman to a bus. After helping her aboard, he wished her a safe journey. As he returned to the greeting party he apologized, “Sorry to have kept you waiting.”

The man was Dr. Albert Schweitzer, the famous missionary doctor who had spent his life helping the poor in Africa. In response to Schweitzer's action, one member of the reception committee said with great admiration to the reporter standing next to him, “That's the first time I ever saw a sermon walking.”

By From God's Little Devotional Book

from A Cup of Chicken Soup for the Soul

Copyright 1996 by Jack Canfield, Mark

Victor Hansen & Barry Spilchuk

Kindness and Hospitality

In the 1992 Olympics Henry Pearce of Australia was competing in the single scull rowing event at the 1928 Olympics. He was leading when a duck and her string of ducklings came into view up ahead. They were on a collision course and Pearce reckoned that his scull would cut the string in two and sink a few ducklings in the process, so he pulled in his oars. When the ducks passed, Pearce again bent his back to the task. There's a happy ending to the story. Pearce won. Usually, acts of sportsmanship result in defeat. Remember Leo Durocher's pronouncement, "Nice guys finish last"? It happened a couple of years ago in the marathon tandem kayak racing event at the world championships in Copenhagen. Danish paddlers were leading when their rudder was damaged in a portage. British paddlers, who were in second place, stopped to help the Danes fix it. The Danes went on to defeat the British by one second in an event that lasted nearly three hours. But there's a happy ending to this story too. According to The Wall Street Journal, the British kayakers won what many people regard as the highest honor in sports. They became the winner of the Pierre de Coubertin International Fair Play Trophy. The trophy is named for the founder of the modern Olympic Games, and it has been awarded annually for the past 28 years to people in sports who have demonstrated nobility of spirit. It is big news in Europe, but it has not been given much recognition in the United States. In the past, the trophy has gone to a Hungarian tennis player who pleaded with officials to give his opponent more time to recover from a cramp, and to a high school basketball coach who forfeited the Georgia (US) state championship after he found out that one of his players was scholastically ineligible. The first trophy went to an Italian bobsledder named Eugenio Monti for a gesture that exhibited a touch of class. In the two-man bobsled event at the 1964 Innsbruck Olympics, Monti was the leader after his final run. The only one given a chance to beat him was Tony Nash of Great Britain. As Nash and his teammate got ready for their final run, they discovered that a critical bolt on their sled had snapped at the last moment. Monti was informed of the problem and immediately took the corresponding bolt from his own sled and sent it up to Nash. Nash fixed his sled, came hurtling down the course to set a record and won the gold medal.

Bits & Pieces, October 15, 1992, Page 4-6

I have wept in the night

For the shortness of sight

That to somebody's need made me blind;

But I never have yet

Felt a twinge of regret

For being a little too kind.

________

C. R. Gibson (probably contributor rather than author); PULPIT HELPS, July, 1991

I was holding meetings in Washington D. C., a man having an office

under the government, had commenced gambling and drinking, and finally

lost his office, and property, and character. While in this condition,

his wife, a high spirited woman, made an excuse to visit some friends

far away, but her real purpose was never to return. When the husband

learned this he fully resolved to commit suicide. He felt that there

was nothing left for him, no friends, no property, office lost,

character gone, his wife had left him never to return. He had fixed

upon eleven o'clock, A. M. as the hour to commit this dreadful deed.

He had written, I suppose, a farewell letter for his wife, and started

for the spot where he was to end his career.

When passing the church where I was holding meetings which were

then in session, he met a lady he was acquainted with and handed her

the letter to mail. This lady thought she read in his face this

desperate purpose, and put the question to him. He would not lie then,

as he intended to be dead inside of an hour, but said:

"See that the letter goes."

With great urgency he consented to go into the church with her and

take a seat, just to get rid of her, intending to go out as soon as

she was seated, and carry out his purpose.

Some one sent a penciled note to me that this man intended to kill

himself in about thirty minutes. As I had a moment before preaching, I

went down the aisle and said to this man:

"I see you are a stranger, give me your hand," and shaking his hand

heartily I said:

"I am glad to see you. Come again."

I said no more but went on with the meeting.

He declared to me afterward that those few gentle words, and grasp

of his hand, disarmed him of his purpose. He said if there is one man

that will speak kindly to me I believe I will not commit suicide.

He attended our meetings and became a Christian, joined that church

and went to work in Christ's cause.

A year after, I met him, well clothed and an active Sabbath-school

teacher. His wife had returned to him, he had his office back and was

a great worker in the church and a happy man.

"A few gentle words or an action of love, Had cheered his sad heart

bereft."

Reader will you not go out after the fallen ones today, and every

day you have opportunity. Singing as you go,

"Down in the bleeding heart,

Crushed by the tempter,

Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;

Touched by a loving heart,

Wakened by kindness;

Chords that were broken will vibrate once more."

-- A. B. Earle, From: "Incidents Used ... In His Meetings," published

in 1888

One day--a long hot day it had been too--I met my father on the

road to town. "I wish you would take this package to the village for

me Jim," he said hesitating. "Now I was a boy of twelve, not fond of

work and was just out of the hayfield where I had been at work since

day-break. I was tired dusty and hungry. It was two miles into town. I

wanted to get my supper and to wash and dress for singing school. My

first impulse was to refuse, and to do it harshly, for I was vexed

that he should ask after my long days work. If I did refuse he would

go himself. He was a gentle, patient old man. But something stopped

me, one of God's good angels I think.

"Of course father I'll take it," I said heartily, giving my scythe

to one of the men. He gave me the package. "Thank you, Jim," he said,

"I was going myself but somehow I don't feel very strong today." He

walked with me to the road that turned off to the town. As he left, he

put his hand on my arm saying again, "Thank you my son; you've always

been a good boy to me, Jim." I hurried into the town and home again.

When I came near the house, I saw a crowd of farm hands at the door.

One of then came to me, the tears rolling down his face: "Your father,

" he said, "fell dead just as he reached the house. The last words he

spoke were to you."

I'm an old man now, but I have thanked God over and over again in

all the years that have passed since that hour that those last words

were: "You've always been a good boy to me." --New York Examiner

One way we build friendships is by those deeds which poet William Wordsworth called “Those little nameless unremembered acts of kindness and of love.” One such act was performed for a man in a small village who had suffered the loss of his young son. After the funeral he visited the local undertaker and said, “I’ve come to square my account.”

“You don’t owe me a penny. You’ve paid your bill on the nail,” the undertaker replied.

“But, I’ve had no bill for the funeral of my son.”

The old undertaker answered, “If you had to bear the sorrow, surely I can bear the expense.” -- Moody

“What window needs fixing?” the repairman snapped as beads of sweat rolled off his forehead. It was a hot, humid August day, and the last thing I needed was a grouchy repairman.

“Before I show you,” I said, “let me clarify what I'd like to have done. I spoke to your supervisor, and she said you would inspect all my windows while you are here.”

“Look, lady, I drove around for two hours trying to find your house. Now I'm way behind schedule. I don't care what the main office told you, I don't have time to inspect all your windows.”

“But I've been waiting months for your company to send a repairman,” I said. “These windows are brand new, and some of them are scratched. I specifically asked to have a repairman look at all the new windows.”

“Well, I ain't gonna do it, lady,” he huffed. “Now, show me the window I came to fix.”

Fine, I thought to myself as I showed him the broken window. I'll fix you! After you leave, I'm going to write a scathing letter to your supervisor. Maybe you'll even lose your job. Good riddance. Who needs rude people like you to deal with?

Just then something inside my head seemed to say Jeanne, what do you think this man needs?

I don't know and I don't care, I answered.

Give him something to drink, the voice seemed to say. It's hot. He got lost coming to your house. He's frustrated and tired. Offer him a pitcher of ice water.

I'll give him some water, but I'm still going to write that letter, I responded.

Pushing aside my ruffled feathers, I went to the house and filled a pitcher with water and ice.

“Would you like some ice water?” I asked, handing him a glass and the pitcher of water. I would have preferred to pour it over his head.

“Yeah, thanks,” he said as he gulped the water down.

Now, ask him if he'd like you to pick up some fast food for him when you run to the store, the voice inside my head seemed to say. He probably hasn't had time to eat.

That's a little too much, I protested. But, reluctantly, I responded to the voice. “I have to return this video to the store and will be gone for just a few minutes,” I told the repairman. “Can I get you anything to eat while I'm out? There's a McDonald's where I'm going.”

“Lady, you're a real lifesaver,” the man said. “Here, meet my son. He's helping me today. We're so far behind on our schedule that we haven't had time to eat.” Then, reaching into his pocket for some money, he told me what he and his son wanted.

When I returned, the father and son stopped working and devoured the food I had brought them. I went about my work.

A few minutes after they had finished eating, they completed the repair of the window. “Now, lady,” the rough-looking repairman said, “what windows did you want me to look at?”

After inspecting all my windows, he said, “By the way, here's my business card. If you ever have any problems with your windows, you call me personally.” He left with a smile on his face.

As I walked into my house, the voice seemed to say, Do you still want to write that letter?

No, I thought. And in that moment I knew it was the Lord who had prompted me to show kindness when I wanted revenge.

“Thank You, Lord,” I prayed, “for giving me this window of opportunity to make a difference in someone's life.”

__________

Source: Signs of the Times, Copyright (c) July 2003, Pacific Press, http://www.signstimes.com; submitted by Dale Galusha

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[Original illustration at this number was a duplicate of HolwickID #16270]

A young girl in a small German town had advertised a piano recital,

stating untruthfully that she was a pupil of Liszt. The day before

the recital the young pianist was suddenly terrified to learn that the

great musician himself had arrived in the area.

Stephen Grellet was a French-born Quaker who died in New Jersey in 1855. Grellet would be unknown to the world today except for a few lines which made him immortal. The familiar lines, which have served as an inspiration to so many people, are these:

"I shall pass through this world but once. Any good that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now and defer it. For I shall not pass this way again."

--Bits & Pieces

submitted by: Miguel

There once was a little boy who wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of root beer, and he started his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry so he offered her a Twinkie.

She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Once again, she smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave but before he had gone more than a few steps; he turned around, ran back to the old woman, and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?"

He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? She's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"

Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked, "Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?" She replied, "I ate Twinkies in the park with God." But before her son responded, she added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected."

Too often we under estimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally!

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk.

He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?" "You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness." He said, "Then I thank you from my heart." As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Year's later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day on, he gave special attention to the case. After a long struggle, the battle was won.

Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, and then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words: "PAID IN FULL WITH ONE GLASS OF MILK."

(Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.

I was five years old. My parents had moved from Alberta to Portland, Oregon, in hopes for a better living.

Unfortunately, my father passed away a year after our move. It was in December and Christmas would be a sad and dismal time for us that year. Much of my mother's meager funds had gone to pay for his funeral. Tears in her eyes, she told us not expect presents this year. She promised us a tree and a roasted chicken for Christmas dinner.

A few days before Christmas, Mother took us to the grocers to purchase the bare necessities for our Christmas dinner. I noticed the grocer slip some candy in the bag after she paid him. The candy was nice, but it didn't make up for toys.

Just as we were entering the path leading to our home, my brother yelled loudly and took off running, my mother and I not far behind. George was already on his knees trying to open one of the two large cartons sitting on the porch. Mother stopped him, saying they did not belong to us. My brother declared that our name was on the boxes.

A neighbour, watching for our return, informed us that delivery truck belonging to the largest department store in Portland - Myer and Frank by name -had brought the cartons. The driver had explained that the store somehow knew about our father's death and took it upon themselves to see that we received toys and food for Christmas morning. The second box held a turkey with all the trimmings for our Christmas dinner.

Over 70 years have passed but I have never forgotten that the largest retail store in Portland, Oregon, also had a heart.

Stella Bird

Victoria, BC