So many times in my life, I have recounted events and accomplishments. About as many times as I recall them, I say to myself: “only if someone would have appreciated it more”; “if they only knew how much I had put into that”; “would I do that again, knowing now the pain and effort that it took”. Ever been there? Sure you have or you wouldn’t be human with email J
Just this morning on my drive to work in the glorious sunshine, I observed farmsteads while driving. A recent hobby of mine is to recall the history of the family farm, the fun, the joy, the fulfillment of that simple life gone by. Since we now have the internet, we don’t have to sit around the ‘fire’, telling stories and sharing our heritage.
I find myself saying: “What a wonderful barn! If it’s care were my responsibility, I certainly would have not it become so run down and useless”. If it were my responsibility………..
Randomly, as I sat down at work, the little book of devotions on my desk fell open to page 228.
The passage found in Philippians 3:13 stood out for my needs today:
…. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and staining toward wheat is ahead…
Briefly translated: The fellow who does things that count doesn’t usually stop to count them.
For more than a quarter century, Arnold Billie was a rural mail carrier in southern New Jersey. His daily route took him sixty-three miles through two counties and five municipalities. “Mister Billie”, as he was affectionately known, did more than deliver the mail. He provided ‘personal service’ also.
Anything a person might need to purchase from the post office, Mr. Billie provided……. stamps, money orders, pickup service. All a customer needed to do was leave the flag up on their mailbox.
One elderly woman had trouble starting her lawn mower, so whenever she desired to use it, she would simply leave it by her mailbox, raise the flag, and when Mr. Billie came by, he would start it for her! Mr. Billie gave a new definition to the phrase “public servant.”
True Christian servants rarely think of themselves as doing anything other than the ordinary, when what they actually do is quite extraordinary! The apostle Paul called himself a slave to Christ, yet he was actually more concerned about being a good servant to ever worry about being a real slave. Why? Because true servants are motivated by love. It is love they know they have received from Christ. And it is love they give.
Father in Heaven, guide me this day to worry less about what I have done, where I have been, and a little more about where I am going and what I am going to do when I get there. Thank you for your presence in my life. Amen.
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