Kind

Decisions, decisions. We all have to make them. Sometimes decisions can be hard. Evidently it was for the sky this morning. It could not decide if it was going to storm or if the sun was going to shine.

If you look closely, you can see the sun was trying to shine. But, we were driving right into some ugly looking clouds. Strange, I know. With the sky being so indecisive this morning, it made me think about a story, my Daddy has always told about my Papa Clyde. There was a time, he had a chance to make a life altering decision. You will be very surprised at what he did.

My Papa Clyde was a sharecropper. He & my Mama Boyce had 10 children. They obviously had to make the most of their earnings. However, they were always willing to share what they had with others. One time my Papa Clyde started to notice the fuel in his farm tank was running low. He would get more fuel added in, then before he could turn around, the level was back down. He had an idea of what was going on. So, he waited & after dark, he took his post out by the fuel tank. Before long, one of his neighbors wandered up the dirt path, with a gas can & hose. Papa Clyde sat there & watched as the guy started to siphon fuel out. When the time was right, Papa Clyde walked up to the man. The man was obviously startled. The man immediately started apologizing to my grandfather. My grandfather said,

”Look you are going to have to stop this.”

The man regrettably agreed,

“I know Mr. Clyde, I am so sorry. I won’t steal no more of your gas again.”

Papa Clyde looked sorta puzzled & said,

“I mean yer gonna hafta quit siphonin’ this out. You could get hurt doin’ that.”

The man didn’t know what to think. Papa Clyde said,

“Looky here. This is the spout. Let me see yer can.”

With that, Papa Clyde took his gas can & showed him how to operate the fuel tank. After he filled up his can, he handed it back to the man & said,

“Now that you know how to get it out, just help yourself, anytime you need it.”

Needless to say, Papa Clyde did not have any problems with this man stealing gas again. Ever.

I have told that story to several different people. I have had some say,

“I would have shot anybody trying to steal from me.”

My grandfather did not choose that. That day he decided kindness was the best medicine. It puts me in mind of how Elisha, in II Kings 6: 8-23, handled the Syrians.

The Syrians were a bad bunch of people. They were trying to go to war against Israel. Elisha would have none of it. He had an idea. First off, when the Syrians surrounded the city, he asked the Lord to blind them.

II Kings 6:

¹⁸So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, “Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.(NKJV)

Next, he led the army to Samaria. v.19

Once there, Elisha asked the Lord to make them see again. When the soldiers regained their sight, the king of Israel asked Elisha could he kill them.

²¹Now when the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?”(NKJV)

However, Elisha has another plan. Elisha chooses kindness. He told the king to make a great feast for them. After that, Elisha sent them back home. Do you know what happened after that? They never darkened Israel’s door step again.

²³Then he prepared a great feast for them; and after they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel. (NKJV)

Don’t you imagine it took some courage for Elisha & my Papa Clyde to stand up to people who were wronging them? I would think it would take a level of maturity, that is not seen often enough, & a love for your fellow man to react in kindness. I have to admit, I am not sure I would have reacted in love & kindness in either of those situations. However, with these 2 wonderful examples I have, I hope to be reminded of their mercy, kindness, & forgiveness, when someone treats me without regard. You have heard

“a little bit of kindness goes a long way.”

Well, today, my friend, you have seen where it did.

I am so glad you came by to visit with me today & listen to me ramble about making wise decisions. I hope you are having a wonderful week. Mine will get better when I get a new microwave. Mine has tore plumb up! We have missed the clock on it more than anything. My husband has threatened to sit his alarm clock on top of it. Until I get to shop for a microwave, (which will be more decisions for me) I should be going because I should be washing clothes.

photo credits: bowtierecords.BlogSpot.com,vendio.com,pinterest

Those who know me know, I am a first class put-ter off-er. I put stuff off until the last minute quite often. Like right now, I have a said amount of clothes (that belong to my husband) folded mind you, sitting on a chest in my bedroom. They are clothes he wore last week, this week, back at Christmas (wait, those are in the floor of the closet). I need to hang those clothes up & put them away. But you know what? I have more important & fun stuff to do at the moment. Like making a dress for my brand spankin’ new granddaughter. Or watching t.v. or surfing the internet for ideas on how to repaint my bedroom suit or having a nutritional snack of peanut butter or Nutella out of the jar or counting the times Miss Neenee asks can we go to the One Direction concert. You know things that distract me from doing what I need to. What are the consequences if I don’t put that laundry up? My husband has to look for matching socks? Pttthhh! He don’t care to do that. Well, for a short period of time anyway. But I won’t stop the world with my pile of clothes or cause anyone to epically fail in life because of my unorganization, so some things just get put off.

However, there are a few things in life we should not put off. Why? Because time goes on & we miss the opportunity. Those things happen, ya know? There is no telling how many great & terrific chances I have missed because I put stuff off. One Sunday at church, Bro. Brad preached about several things we should never put off.

1. Be quick to take action. We should discipline ourselves, because often times we wait too long to take action. We make excuses why we can’t do something. However, you don’t have to know everything to do something positive in life.

Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.(NKJV)

2. Don’t wait too long to be kind to others. Make kindness a part of your everyday life. Let your first reaction to any situation be kindness. The giver the apostle Paul speaks of in this passage is not only regarding of our monetary offering, but a giving of ourselves, as well.

II Corinthians 9:7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. (NKJV)

3. Be the best parent you can. We have our children, in our homes, for such a short time. They are born & before you turn around, they are in school. Then, graduating & having kids of their own. Take time now to make a difference in their lives. Teach them right from wrong. Don’t think you will address this or that later. Do it now or you may miss your chance.

Ephesians 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.(NKJV)

4. Read & study your Bible. We often make the promise to ourselves, “I am going to be a better Bible student.” Today is the day! You can’t grow your faith without spending time in God’s Word. Blessings will pour on you, when you spend time with God. Don’t rob yourself of that.

II Timothy 2:10 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (KJV)

5. Realize today is the day to make things right. Don’t put off making things right with God. We are not promised another day or minute. Don’t meet our Savior unprepared.

II Corinthians 6: 1-2 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. ²For He says:“In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

I am so glad you came by to visit with me today. You know what? I think I may put those clothes up today. Maybe. If the sun in not shining & I can’t sit out on the deck. I will definitely put them up. Lawdy chile, I have got to quit my lyin’. I ain’t foolin’ with that today! Maybe if you aren’t doing anything, you would like to come hang these clothes up for me? No? I can’t say I blame you. I hope you have a great week. As for me, I have to be going, because I should be washing clothes.