Finishing touch?

(09.20.21–Honoring –Corinthians 13:14)

My friend, may I ask you a question? You know, isn’t it the small things that we do for others, not often the big ones, that pay the most honor to those we touch?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

Years ago my son Dan and nephew Matt help me maintain a cemetery in River Hills, some 40 miles away, that is dear to our family. A number of Brunner homesteading relatives are buried there and, even though it is some distance to drive, we feel the Lord wants us to take care of the place. I ride the Garden Tractor, cutting wide swaths between the gravestones and Dan leads the way with the string trimmer, cutting around markers and cribs where the tractor just can't safely maneuver. Matt mans the walk-behind mower. Together, in about an hour or so, the work gets done. All three roles, cutting, trim- ming and mowing, are important. But there is one thing that Matt does when all the work is done that really makes the difference. He honors the dead by sweeping the grass cuttings away from each stone. That small task, simple as it is, makes the whole effort worthwhile.

You know, it's the small things that we do for others, not often the big ones, that pay the most honor to those we touch.

Nurse Annette Budzban writes: As a new nurse, I was given the report on my patient's condition for the day. I was warned that he was cranky. When I made my rounds, I gently knocked on the door and was greeted with a reserved, "Thank you for knocking." As I made my assessment of his condition, I talked with this older gentleman. He explained he didn't like the way people came into his room with no respect for his feelings. My knock on the door let him know that I respected his privacy. After this, I knocked before each entrance to his room. By the end of the day, he began to open up about his true feelings regarding his illness. The next day when I came in, he was chipper. "I have something for you," he exclaimed. Then he gently handed me a clipping from the newspaper that read: "Love is respect." He had personalized the message to me by placing my name at the top and his at the bottom. I kept that clipping and I hung it on my bedroom mirror. Each day as I looked in my mirror, it served me as a daily reminder to respect others. (Annette Budzban)

We all need a reminder of what love is. That's why the apostle Paul wrote the 'Love Chapter' of the Bible; here Paul lists the various actions that love consists of. He does not say love is an emotion, but as you read the list, you see that love is an action performed by a motive to do the right thing. I like to read this chapter often, to remind myself how to treat others. Are you looking to sweep away some discouragement or fear in someone's life today? Try doing something small and simple to honor them as a friend or loved one. In the end, some small thing may pay the biggest dividends when it comes to putting a finishing touch on a "love" relationship.

We pray. Heavenly Father, You are the author and originator of love. We only know love because You are love and You loved us first. You love us specifically and sacrificially. You love us in our sin and rebellion against You. You love us despite the pain we inflict on others. You love us in our mess. It is that love - that selfless, self-sacrificing love, which allows us to love others. It is an overflow of Your love for us that allows us to love other people. We ask You to make us better lovers of one another. Would You give us the heart and love to proclaim Your love to those who need to hear it? In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.

Finishing touch?

(09.20.21–Honoring –Corinthians 13:14)

My friend, may I ask you a question? You know, isn’t it the small things that we do for others, not often the big ones, that pay the most honor to those we touch?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

Years ago my son Dan and nephew Matt help me maintain a cemetery in River Hills, some 40 miles away, that is dear to our family. A number of Brunner homesteading relatives are buried there and, even though it is some distance to drive, we feel the Lord wants us to take care of the place. I ride the Garden Tractor, cutting wide swaths between the gravestones and Dan leads the way with the string trimmer, cutting around markers and cribs where the tractor just can't safely maneuver. Matt mans the walk-behind mower. Together, in about an hour or so, the work gets done. All three roles, cutting, trim- ming and mowing, are important. But there is one thing that Matt does when all the work is done that really makes the difference. He honors the dead by sweeping the grass cuttings away from each stone. That small task, simple as it is, makes the whole effort worthwhile.

You know, it's the small things that we do for others, not often the big ones, that pay the most honor to those we touch.

Nurse Annette Budzban writes: As a new nurse, I was given the report on my patient's condition for the day. I was warned that he was cranky. When I made my rounds, I gently knocked on the door and was greeted with a reserved, "Thank you for knocking." As I made my assessment of his condition, I talked with this older gentleman. He explained he didn't like the way people came into his room with no respect for his feelings. My knock on the door let him know that I respected his privacy. After this, I knocked before each entrance to his room. By the end of the day, he began to open up about his true feelings regarding his illness. The next day when I came in, he was chipper. "I have something for you," he exclaimed. Then he gently handed me a clipping from the newspaper that read: "Love is respect." He had personalized the message to me by placing my name at the top and his at the bottom. I kept that clipping and I hung it on my bedroom mirror. Each day as I looked in my mirror, it served me as a daily reminder to respect others. (Annette Budzban)

We all need a reminder of what love is. That's why the apostle Paul wrote the 'Love Chapter' of the Bible; here Paul lists the various actions that love consists of. He does not say love is an emotion, but as you read the list, you see that love is an action performed by a motive to do the right thing. I like to read this chapter often, to remind myself how to treat others. Are you looking to sweep away some discouragement or fear in someone's life today? Try doing something small and simple to honor them as a friend or loved one. In the end, some small thing may pay the biggest dividends when it comes to putting a finishing touch on a "love" relationship.

We pray. Heavenly Father, You are the author and originator of love. We only know love because You are love and You loved us first. You love us specifically and sacrificially. You love us in our sin and rebellion against You. You love us despite the pain we inflict on others. You love us in our mess. It is that love - that selfless, self-sacrificing love, which allows us to love others. It is an overflow of Your love for us that allows us to love other people. We ask You to make us better lovers of one another. Would You give us the heart and love to proclaim Your love to those who need to hear it? In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.