The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Greetings to ever one in western Illinois and all readers of The Quill.
Here we are in the last week of July already. Friday is not only a full moon night but a good day fer fish'n. Relax and give it a try if'n you're inclined ta enjoy that type of activity.
The Gift of Time
Last week I presented fer your reflection "The Back Nine", in this column. This weeks column I'm follow'n up with some sober thoughts about life.
The last wishes of Alexander The Great....on his death bed, Alexander summoned his army generals and told them his three ultimate wishes:
1. The best doctors should carry his coffin...
2. The wealth he has accumulated (money, gold, precious stones) should be scattered along the procession to the burial spot...
3. His hands should be loose, so they hang outside the coffin fer all ta see!!
One of his generals, who was surprised by these unusual requests, asked Alexander ta explain his requests. Here is what Alexander The Great had ta say:
1. "I want the best doctors in the world ta carry my coffin ta demonstrate that in the face of death, even the best doctors have no power to heal...
2. "I want the road to be covered with my treasure so that everybody sees that material wealth acquired on earth, will stay on earth"...
3. I want my hands to swing in the wind, so that people understand that we come to this world empty handed and we leave this world empty handed after the most precious treasure of all is exhausted and that is TIME.
We do not take to our grave any material wealth. TIME is our most precious treasure because it is LIMITED. We can produce more wealth, but we cannot produce more time.
When we give someone our time, we actually give a portion of our life that we will never take back. Our time is our life! The best present that you can give ta your family and friends is your TIME.
Generous Giving
Giving is part of being a Christian. God loveth a cheerful giver-2 Corinthians 9:7. We can give money, food, time, or many other things. Just give'n is one thing, but give'n cheerfully is another.
How we give is just as important as how much we give. Our alms, we learn, should be done secretly and cheerfully. We need to be careful lest we have the idea that when we have more time, wealth, or possessions, then we will give.
There is a story about a man who told his friend, "If I owned two houses, I would give one to a poor family!"
"What if'n ya owned two cars?" his friend asked. "Oh, sure," the man replied. "I would give one car away."
Then his friend asked, "What if'n ya owned two donkeys?" "That's not fair!" The man exclaimed, "You know that I have two donkeys."
It's human nature ta be generous about give'n in theory or give'n what we do not need ta pay for.
True giving is sacrificial and unconditional. It does not have the idea "I helped him out; now he owes me something." Or "A few dollars fer change'n a flat tire would have been welcome instead of only a thank you!" Think about the generous giving of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10, he gave both time and resources, all fer the good of another and without any promises of reward.
A christian can give without loving, but he cannot love without giving.
The recent tornado storm that went thru up north is an example. Fer days afterward folk, complete strangers, are offer'n help. They are provide'n money, food, time, and many other things without any thought of reward.
There was a lady recently at the entrance of Wal-Mart carry'n a sign explain'n she was a single mom in need of help. Some folk, only a few, stopped and offered aid. Others, in their apparent rush fer TIME barely gave her a glance.
Maybe she was legitimate and maybe she wasn't but, the cheerful giver did not pass judgement. It could have been someone's daughter who made a mistake, someone's mother in uncontrollable circumstances, someone's sister try'n ta get her life back on track.
The few Good Samaritans who stopped at her side feared not fer crime, nor fer the disruption in their schedule but they were generous and cheerful givers, not in theory but in action.
It has been said "Sometimes perhaps we are allowed to get lost that we might find the right person to ask directions of."
The best thing you can give someone is a chance.
Find the Good. It's all around you. Find it, showcase it and you'll start believe'n it.
Love is like the sea, it's a move'n thing, but still takes its shape from the shore it meets and its different with every shore.
A noble purpose of human existence is ta kindle a light in the darkness of mere being.
Thats all fer this week's column.
Hope'n ta see youn's in church this week.
Wherever ya is, what ever ya be a do'n "BE A GOOD ONE!"
Keep on Smile'n
Catch ya later
BARNYARD BRUKE