Drug Problem



The other day, a man standing next to me at a store in our small town read that a meth lab had been found in an old farm house in the adjoining county, and he asked me a rhetorical question...
Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?

I told him I did have a drug problem when I was a kid growing up.
I was drug to church on Sunday... morning and night.

I was drug to church for weddings and funerals.

I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.

I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults.

I was also drug upstairs to my room or the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher. Or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.

I was drug to the kitchen sink if I uttered a profane four letter word or smoked a cigarette (I do know what soap tastes like).

I was drug out to pull weeds in mom's garden and flower beds and to clear cockleburs out of dad's fields.

I was drug to the homes of family, friends, and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline or chop some fire wood, and if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the wood shed.

Those drugs are still in my veins; and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, and think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack or heroin, and if today's children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place to live today.
Author Unknown

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6



The Little Things

It really is the little things
That mean the most of all...
The "let me help you with that" things
That may seem very small
The "I'll be glad to do it" things
That make your cares much lighter,
The "laugh with me, it's funny" things
That make your outlook brighter...

The "never mind the trouble" things,
The "yes, I understand,"
The interest and encouragement
In everything you've planned
It really is the little things,
The friendly word or smile,
That add such happiness to life
And make it more worth while.

Mary Dawson Hughes

 His lord said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'

Matt. 25:21 (NKJV)

I'd Rather See A Sermon



I'd rather see a sermon
than hear one any day;
I'd rather one should walk with me
than merely tell the way.
The eye's a better pupil
and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing,
but example's always clear;
And the best of all preachers
are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action
is what everybody needs.
I soon can learn to do it
if you'll let me see it done;
I can watch your hands in action,
but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lecture you deliver
may be very wise and true,
But I'd rather get my lessons
by observing what you do;
For I might misunderstand you
and the high advice you give,
But there's no misunderstanding
how you act and how you live.
Edgar A. Guest

Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalms 25: 4-5

Going Out of Your Way to Help Anyone Always Brings Surprising Benefits

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride.

Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.  A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960's. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached.

It read:  "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's' bedside just before he passed away.... God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others.."

Sincerely,

Mrs. Nat King Cole.

Winning the Lottery

An Ohio man who needs kidney dialysis to stay alive won $5 million in the lottery--but says he plans on giving part of his windfall away.

"I'm going to help people because I love it. It makes me feel good, and I think that's what God put us here for," Phillip Withem of Logan said Tuesday, right after accepting the mega-check from the Ohio Lottery.

Wow!  Just when I thought people couldn't get any greedier, someone steps up and shatters my thinking!

It seems that this man has a belief system that puts others ahead of himself.  Again...Wow!  In an age where our leaders of all kinds are putting their wants and needs ahead of anything for anyone else, this is so very refreshing! 

Our news articles are all about the negative aspects of our society.  You can't watch the news without hearing, for thirty minutes why the world is so bad.  And then I'm flipping through the news on Yahoo and I see this article about Mr. Withem of Logan, Ohio. 

Here are five reasons to think of others first:

If you're giving to others, you're thinking about them and not yourself.  Mother Teresa said, "I have found the paradox that if I love until it hurts, then there is no hurt, but only more love."   When you're thinking about others, you allow yourself to find the love that is in each one of us and make it come alive for both of you.  You forget all about your problems.

When you put others first, your life is happier.  When you're working to do for others, their joys become your joys.  As you see them reaching their goals, becoming who they want to be or doing what they want to do, you're a part of that effort and you become happier because you've helped make them happier.

When you focus on others first, it comes back to you, in ways you never imagined.  There have been many times in my life when I've done for others, simply because I chose to do it.  I expected no rewards or gratitude.  In fact, many times I did it anonymously preferring not to be recognized for my efforts.  In almost every case, I received back many times over what I gave.  Again, not because a debt was owed but because someone else was doing the same thing, putting others first.

Edward Everett Hale once said, "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do."  You may think that there is nothing you can do to make a difference in this world.  It is true that we may not be able to change the world, but by putting others first and taking action to help, we can change one little corner of the world.  That's a start.



Many times we think we must rely on the 'heroes' of our world to make it better.  This is just not the case.  Helen Keller said, "The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of tiny pushes of each honest worker."  When we put others first we are a hero to them.  We haven't moved mountains or parted the seas, but, for that person, we did what we could. 

You see, like Mr. Withem, we all have the ability to reach out to others and make their lives a little better.  Is that going to change his health problems?  Maybe not in ways that we can see, but his soul will be happier, will be freer because he did what he could do.  And in turn, that may make his health better, his recovery quicker, and his outlook brighter.

Have you done what you can for someone else today?