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.
Jeff
On behalf of turtles everywhere, thanks, Dave.
Hate to bring this to the lowest common denominator, but that was a rather Gentile Seinfeldian observation of human nature and pride. Your story reminds me of the Seinfeld monologue about "the wave." Why is it, when we let someone change lanes in traffic, or let someone into the flow of traffic from a gas station or store, that we expect a wave in return? And why do we get annoyed when we don’t get "the wave?" Just be content having done the right thing.
Burchett. It’s not Must-See TV…but Must-Read Blogging.
shimauma
WOW! whining little human that I am, I like an acknowledgement, just out of politeness, but you’re right. Performing random acts of kindness should also include the notion that no human but you may ever know…but God knows too. Thanks as always for the reminders about who I’m supposed to be.