A NEWSLETTER FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE GREENWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

VOLUME 5 NO. 9                                           April 27, 2008

The Best Gift

Author Unknown

A man came home from work late again, tired and irritated, to find his five-year old son waiting for him at the door.  “Daddy, may I ask you a question?”  “Yeah, sure.  What is it?” replied the father.

“Daddy, how much money do you make an hour?”  “That’s none of your business!  What makes you ask such a thing?” the father said angrily.

“I just wanted to know.  Please tell me.  How much do you make an hour?” pleaded the boy.

“If you must know, I make $20.00 an hour.” said the dad.

“Looking up, the boy said, “Daddy, may I borrow $9.00 please?”

The father was furious.  “If the only reason you wanted to know how much money I make is just so you can borrow some, they you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed.  Think about why you’re being selfish.  I work long, hard hours every day, and don’t have time for such childish games.”

The boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.  The father sat down and got madder about his son’s questioning.  How dare he ask such questions only to get some money!  After an hour, he calmed down and started to think he might have been too hard on his son.  Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $ 9.00.  He didn’t ask for money often.

The father went to his son’s room and opened the door.  “Are you asleep, son?” he asked.

“No, Daddy, I’m awake,” replied the boy.

“I’ve been thinking.  Maybe I was too hard on you earlier,” said the father.  “It’s been a long day, and I took my aggravations out on you.  Here’s the $ 9.00 you asked for.”

The boy sat up straight, beaming.  “Oh, thank you, Daddy!” he said.

Then reaching under his pillow, he pulled out some crumpled bills.  He counted the money and then looked up at his father.

“Why did you want more money if you already had some?” the father asked.  “Because I didn’t have enough, but now I do,” the little boy replied.  “Daddy, I have $ 20.00 now!  Can I buy an hour of your time?”

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “The only gift is a portion of thyself.”

This anonymous article reminds me of what Paul mentioned in Ephesians 5:16 “…redeeming the time…”  I can assure you that there are very many days that go by that I do not think of when my children were younger and I was the father that didn’t have time.  Maybe all of us can relate to that who are older and have children that are grown and married with children of their own.

How can you go back and change things?  You can’t!  However, you can try and teach your grown children that you recognize your failure to spend more time with them and give them encouragement not to make the same mistake with their children.

If you have children at home and are busy in raising them then please take heed.  Your child might be trying to raise enough money to purchase just one hour of your time.

Children are precious and the time with them is short.  Redeem that time by using it wisely!

Preacher On The Loose!

By David L. Roper, “Kids of the Kingdom”

The preacher was wired for sound with a lapel mike, and as he preached, he moved briskly about the platform, jerking the mike cord as he went.  Then he moved to one side, getting wound up in the cord and nearly tripping before jerking it again.  After several circles and jerks, a little girl in the third pew leaned toward her mother and whispered, “If he gets loose, will he hurt us?”

What Would They Put In Your Hand?

By David Sain

Some time ago I read about a woman who had died and her husband requested that when she was placed in the casket that she have an open Bible in her hands.  The husband explained that she looked more natural that way.  I thought about what a life she must have had to have been remembered is such a way.  This couple had been married 53 years and had five children, with 15 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.  All who were old enough were Christians.

Isn’t this evidence enough of the influence of a Bible-reading life?

Now what if someone put the thing in your hands that seemed most appropriate after you die?  What would it be?  A cigarette?  A bottle?  Car keys?  TV guide?  Think about it.  What object would your family pick that would most accurately represent your life?

“Preach the gospel at all times.  If necessary, use Words.”
Francis of Assisi (Righteousness, Lifestyle)