Thoughts for another day

Mar. 24, 2008

Today's verse: Gal. 6:9. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

God tells us we need to do good. It means have compassion on the poor, pray for enemies, bring in love where there’s hatred, sacrifice where there is need, intercede for believers, always rejoice, etc. At this glorious season of Easter I believe it’s time we aim to do good. Brothers and sisters, life takes us through a glut of emotions offering us good and the not so good things and when we run through this paradox, it isn’t easy to always do good. I have seen times when I do good, when everything is fine with me. However, one small insult from an associate and I am immediately up in arms giving it – fair and square! The harder I get, the harder I give and the world encourages me to do it. In this process, my nature becomes crude and brusque and often times, I do not even consider that someone may need a little charity. Rather I get wrapped with my own ego and do not do the good I can. Haven’t you experienced it yourself?

The devil is constantly behind us to exact revenge leaving no room to do good. But the Word of God tells us to do good. I have found in doing good, our spirits are hale and hearty. I know people, always ready to help others exhibiting seamless energy. If I ask what gives them so much strength, they say it is God. An assertion of Jesus’ saying, ‘whatever you do unto others, that you do unto Me.’

Our Word today, asks us not to tire doing good; because we shall reap the same if we weary not in the process. There is so much truth in it. A lady who used to help her neighbors was always in good health. Then a friend told her how ungrateful people are and that she shouldn’t help them. She continued helping but the thought got stuck in her mind, she felt people ungrateful so she started getting weary helping others and eventually stopped. By some inexplicable reason, she felt sick everyday but didn’t bring herself to re-starting her earlier work. One day, she thought to go see Mr Louis, the elderly gent saying four blocks away, after his wife expired. As she set out, she thought she must take that fresh pickle she had made and give that to him.

When she went and met him, he cried before her and even more when she gave him the pickle. What he told her shocked her; he said: his wife had become so lonely because she had stopped visiting them and even on her deathbed she was taking her name! That’s the time she decided she would continue as before and soon got back in her old ways. Surprisingly, her own sickness vanished and her energy revived. Such is the reward God has reserved for those who do good. Surely you shall reap the same all your life.