“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” – Phil. 2:4
Considering how busy we are at this time of the year I thought this story from Dr. Bob Griffin might be helpful. A successful young executive was riding his brand new car down a street near his downtown office when he noticed a kid darting out from between parked cars. He carefully slowed down. but as he appeared near that spot, a brick smashed into his car’s passenger-side door. He slammed on the brakes and backed up to the place where the brick has been thrown.
The furious man jumped out of his car and caught the nearest kid shouting, “What was that all about? What in the world did you do to my car? Why did you do it?”.
The young boy was little scared, but was very polite and apologetic. “I am sorry Mister. I didn’t know what else to do,” he pleaded. “I had to throw the brick because I’ve been trying and trying and no one else would stop to help”. With tears rolling down his cheeks, he pointed towards the parked cars and said, “It’s my brother, he rolled off the curb and fell off his wheelchair and he’s hurt. I can’t lift him up.”
The sobbing boy asked the man, “Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He’s too heavy for me.” The young man was moved beyond words and tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the other kid from the gutter and put him back in the wheelchair, checking to make sure he didn’t need more attention for any bruises or cuts.
When he thought that everything would be ok, he went back to his car. “Thank you, sir, and God bless you”, said the grateful kid. The young man was too shaken up for any word, so he simply watched the little boy push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk and around a corner.
It was a long and slow drive back home to his garage. When he walked around his car, he looked at the dented car door. The damage was very noticeable, but he decided not to bother to repair it. He knew the dent would remind him – “Don’t go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention”.
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
