In the late 1800s, "Slow Sam" was hired to sweep streets of his small
town in Iowa.
The job description required Sam, once a week, to
clean off the sidewalks in front of the town's stores and businesses. It
was not a high-paying job, nor was it the kind of position to which
people aspired. Still Sam was a friendly fellow, and his conversations
made him many friends.
One of those friendly folks Sam met was
Mrs. Gidding, the lady who owned a haberdashery on the corner of Main
Street. After Sam swept her walk, Mrs. Gidding always took him a glass
of lemonade and a slice of cake. While Sam always thanked the lady for
her kindness, it took until the end of summer before he really showed
his appreciation.
That night Sam knocked on the door of Mrs.
Gidding's home. When she opened the door, Sam presented her with a sack
of apples and a dozen ears of sweet corn. He said, "I brought you these,
Ma'am, for your kindness."
"Oh, you shouldn't!" Exclaimed Mrs.
Gidding. "What I did was nothing."
Then the street sweeper said
an odd thing. He agreed with her and replied, "Maybe not, Ma'am, but it
was more than was done by anybody else."
You know, I suppose most
of the Christians of that small Iowa town would have done the same as
Mrs. Gidding ... if they had thought about it. Sadly, it just never
occurred to them to help out the poor street sweeper. They went about
doing their work, and they thought he should do the same.
No
further interaction was necessary.
I give thanks the Lord hasn't
treated us that way. He could have done just that, you know. He could
have left us going through our lives without any interaction between Him
and us. Instead of doing that, He decided to intervene by sending His
Son into the world to live, die and rise for us. Now, because of Jesus'
actions, all who believe are forgiven and given a place in the kingdom
of heaven.
This means that we, in thanksgiving to the Redeemer,
are given the opportunity to respond. Most certainly we ought to be
appreciative to Jesus, but we also can show our gratitude by responding
favorably to others, even if it is with just a piece of cake and a glass
of lemonade.
As James said, such acts are the result of a
thankful, living faith.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, Jesus did all that
was necessary to move us from hell to heaven. Now, in thankfulness may
we reflect the love we have received from the Savior to others. In
Jesus' Name we ask for the ability and willingness to do so. Amen.
Pastor Ken Klaus
Lutheran Hour Ministries All rights reserved;
not to be duplicated without permission.
