Today is date day with my bride at the Slow Drip Spa. That is our name for the infusion suite at the cancer center. So I am posting a “gently” read article from earlier.
Blessings and joy in the journey,
Dave
This morning I looked out in the backyard and noticed that adopted dog Hannah was vibrating. She usually only vibrates when she meets a new friend so I got a little curious. When I investigated I found that Hannah had “befriended” a box turtle that had somehow found it’s way through our fences and into our yard. The turtle seemed considerably less excited about the relationship with Hannah but he/she did seem to sense that the vibrating lab was, at worst, annoying.
A few minutes later I checked again on the turtle. The turtle had managed to fall into our pool and it was apparent that land turtles cannot swim. I looked for the leaf skimmer but we had attached the brush instead. In the meantime the poor little thing was flailing, stretching it’s neck as much as it could to break the surface, and it was clear the turtle was doomed without some help. So I jumped in and saved the turtle. I don’t want to overstate the case. I wasn’t dressed in an Armani suit with Italian loafers. I was just in shorts and a t-shirt. But I got pretty soaked in the waist deep water the turtle had fallen in. I put the turtle back on land and he simply crawled away. I dried off and wondered how many people in America rescue box turtles from pools on any given day. I might be the only one in the whole country today.
Later I reflected on the turtle’s response. Once I put him down he just went on his way. No thank you. No nod of his scaly noggin. Nothing. And I didn’t care because I didn’t rescue the turtle with any expectations that I would receive anything. It was just the right thing to do because one of God’s creatures was in distress.
That response made me wonder about some of my motives when I reach out to others. If I don’t receive a response I sometimes get perturbed. If there is not acknowledgement of my “heroics” I feel hurt or angry. When I simply do the right thing for one of God’s struggling creatures should I expect anything in return? What is my reason for helping if I do? I know the turtle was incapable of a response. Maybe some of the people we come in contact are nearly as incapable of gratitude at that point in their journey.
I liked the turtle’s response. He made me think about why I serve the Lord. Is for Him or for me? If it is for Him I won’t care if I do the right thing and the recipient just goes on their way. Solomon wrote this in Proverbs.
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it,
when it is in your power to act. Prov 23 NIV
So next time you do a kind thing make that your reward. Just representing Jesus is thanks enough.
Barbara Crincoli
What a wonderful example. I use to feel the same way. Why wasn’t someone thankful or why did they not return my love? I finally accepted that I was not to look for reward. For if I received a reward, that was my blessing. However, if I expected no reward or acknowledgement my Lord would see and be pleased. That was my goal, to please the Lord, not the world.
I agaree with Amaranth. How often do we acknowledge our Lord and thank Him for what he is doing, will do, has done? I try to do that everyday over every thing. I pray without ceasing, knowing that the Lord is watching and listening to everything that concerns me. He is such an Awesome God. He is the one true living God, and we must fulfill his will for us–fellowship with Him.
I shall be praying for you and your wife.
Amaranth
This post hit me hard.
Look at the gratitude and acknowledgement Jesus receives from us. He suffered for us before we were born. He knew we would betray Him again and again and again. He knew we would not appreciate His sacrifice. He did it anyhow. How can we show so little gratitude to him and expect anything at all from someone else? We need to do it anyhow.
Thanks for the wake-up.
Sharon McCommas Burr
It was indeed timely since I am speaking on this exact subject this weekend. In my sleepless wee hours of the morning this morning I prayed for you and your wife.
God Bless You,
Sharon Burr
Randy S.
I liked this one the first time, and it was timely again today, Dave. Kind of like when we let a car into traffic and don’t get the "thank-you wave" back. What’s the deal with that? Did I really let the guy in to get a wave? I guess not. It’s not like I’d put that on my resume.
If I did it because it was the right thing to do, and it was the Christ-like thing to do, isn’t that good enough?
Blessings to you and Joni
R