Once again, the old farmer won the top award for the best grown corn.  In the course of being interviewed, the newspaper reporter found out that each year the farmer shared the prize-winning seed corn with his fellow farmers.  The reporter questioned why the farmer would do that, knowing that they could compete for the prize as well.  The farmer replied, “Why sir, didn’t you know?  The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field.  If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn.  If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.”  Because helping his neighbor was the goal, all profited from the award-winning seed.

Each morning, before school, five high school guys gather to read their Bibles together.  They meet in the school parking lot, lean over the trunk of one of their cars, and share in Bible study before beginning their school day.

 

Christa Graves took her 4-year-old son with her to buy a few groceries.  On her way to check out, she picked up a bouquet of carnations for Caden to give to other customers as they exited the store.  This is something Christa does, periodically, to teach her boys the importance of giving.  The store manager, Jamie Stephens, saw the pleasure of the recipients, he asked Christa if he could bring out another bouquet for Caden to give away.  Once in the car, Caden told his mother that his “heart was happy”.  When we take time to care for others, that tends to happen.

 

At the Walmart in Antioch, a man came into the auto service department with two young men that he had picked up alongside the interstate.  They were stranded due to a flat tire and no spare.  The man waited with the teenagers, purchased the tire, took them back to their car, and changed the tire for them.  Even though he had never met the two guys, help was offered when it was most needed.

 

Candice Bell frequently takes her two young children to the grocery store.  At times, just like other kids, they tend to continually ask for something that they want.  Recently, as she was entered the store, she showed her children the bin for the Food Bank and explained that the food was for people who had no food or who needed help getting food.  That day, she told each child they could choose one item to buy and place in the bin on the way back to the car.  After carefully making their choice, they held on to the product until it was time to check out.  They carefully handed the cashier their pick for the day and could hardly wait for their mother to pay so they could place their gift in the food bin.  The past five times at the store the children have done the same process and have yet to ask for something for themselves.  What a wonderful lesson, in giving, to learn at such an early age.

 

This week, may we each take the time to seize the opportunity to love and serve our neighbors well.

 

 

“To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.

Mark 12:33

 

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Luke 6:31

 

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13:34-35

 

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.

James 2:8