He Certainly Has

May 27, 2021

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Eph. 4:32 ESV)

I live in a poor part of the country. Most people around here can’t afford a new car and struggle to keep their old cars running. The worn, mountain roads too pile up potholes faster than people can patch them. It isn’t unusual then to see someone hitchhiking along the side of the road. I try to stop and pick them up whenever I can. It is the least I can do to help out my neighbors, and I would rather live my life in love than fear.

I saw another one of them the other day. I had just dropped my son off at the sheltered workshop where he works and was driving back home. There on the side of the road was an old man with his thumb out. I pulled over and let him in. He was heavyset and took his time squeezing into my tiny car. He wore bib overalls, a torn t-shirt, and worn work boots. His face and hands were streaked with dirt and grease. His gray hair was a tangled mess and his bushy beard was snowy white and fell to his chest. He looked like a cross between my late father-in-law and a soot covered Santa. For the next fifteen minutes we chatted while I drove. We talked about the weather, our work, and our families. His eyes especially sparkled when he laughed about the antics of his grandchildren. It felt so good getting to know him and help him out. It felt so good being able to share a simple act of kindness. When we finally reached his destination I pulled over to let him out. He climbed slowly out of the car and then bent back down, looked me in the eye, and said, “God bless you, son!” As I drove off I thought to myself, “Yes, He certainly has.”

God loves us all so much. And God gives us a heart capable of so much love and kindness as well. It is when we share this love and kindness with others that we feel truly blessed. Share your love and kindness today then. Make your own life a blessing to the world.

Joseph J. Mazzella

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