Recently my husband, Emily and I were on our way to Emily’s first piano recital. When we pulled off highway 27 onto the exit ramp towards the piano teacher’s house there was a young man standing by his car. My husband and I both thought the same thing – that’s too bad! But Michael actually stopped and asked him if he needed help.
Now, I personally was thinking, “We have somewhere to be. We don’t have time to help this stranger!” But my husband, he dropped Emily and I off at the recital and hurried back to help the guy. Michael arrived back, just in time to hear Emily play her pieces on the program. He taught Emily and I that day-
Its not the thought that counts.
Often I’ve said this phrase : “Its the thought that counts”. It makes people feel better. When a friend says she meant to send birthday wishes but forgot – that’s what I tell her. If my daughter colors a picture but decides not to give it to me after all, I might tell her “that’s okay – its the thought that counts.”
Last night we arrived home from being out all day and we were tired. Our Saturday was booked solid with activity. When we pulled into our driveway, there, across the street were our new neighbors moving into their house. Michael and I have been talking about what to do when they arrived – how to reach out to them and now we were confronted with a decision. I wanted to have warm fuzzy thoughts and conversations about how to get to know them, while snuggled up under a blanket with a nice cup of hot chocolate. But my dear husband taught me again.
Its not the thought that counts.
Michael got on his old work clothes and walked across the street to meet our neighbors. He helped them work and unload their furniture, beds and boxes until they were ready to stop for the night.
When Jesus was here, on earth, he was a great teacher. There’s no doubt that He gave us a lot to think about with things that He said in parables and lessons. But, he didn’t stop there. He acted. In love, He went about healing the lame, giving sight to the blind, feeding the hungry. He cared for those in need. He asks us to follow his example and do the same.
My neighbors will never learn of Jesus love for them unless I follow all of these thoughts with Christ – like action. Because in this case its not the thought that counts. Thanks to my husband’s example, the neighbors will get freshly baked cookies tomorrow. Hope they like oatmeal chocolate chip.
md
(written january 24, 2010)
daily portion 