Some of us are good at telling jokes and some at telling stories. Since I can sometimes forget the punchline of a joke, I’ll think I’ll just stick to telling stories! The one I recently found tugged at my heart strings; I think you’ll agree it is worth sharing:
A man was hired to paint a boat, and so he began his task. While painting, he found a small hole in the boat and decided to fix it. When the boat was finished, the man was paid for his work and left.
After the paint had dried, the owner’s children took the boat out for a fishing trip. The owner wasn’t home at the time. When he came home and saw the boat missing, he panicked, because he knew there had been a hole in the boat that he had forgotten to mention to the painter. To his great delight and relief, the children returned home safely from their fishing trip.
The next day, the owner went to the painter and offered him more money. The painter refused, insisting he had already been paid for the work.
The owner said, “You don’t understand! My children took the boat out and had you not fixed the hole, it would have been a disaster!”
The painter shrugged. “It was just a small thing to do,” he replied.
“It wasn’t a small thing to me!” the owner told him. “You saved the lives of my children!”
No matter who, when, or how, do your best to continue to help, sustain, wipe tears, listen attentively, and carefully repair all the ‘leaks’ that you may find. You never know when someone is in need of us, or when God holds a pleasant surprise for us to be helpful and important to someone.
(Original Author Unknown)
This story truly speaks of what it is to be a true Christian! Going that extra mile without being asked… when was the last time you did that? Or if you were on the receiving end, did you thank the other person?
A part of this Eucharistic Revival in the Church is to remind us that the Eucharist we receive is truly Jesus and can transform us, if we allow Him to. That begins with opening your heart to transformation. In becoming more Christ-like, we will begin to become other-centered instead of self-centered.
Think about it this week; along your journey, how many ‘boat holes’ have you repaired and for whom? Make a difference and be the BEST YOU!
Till next week,
Sister Theresita
