"A Hole in the Boat"

A man was asked to paint a boat. He brought his paint and brushes and began to paint the boat a beautiful bright red, as the owner had asked him to. While painting, he noticed a small hole in the hull, and he quietly repaired it. When he finished painting, he received his money and left.

The next day, the owner of the boat came to the painter and presented him with another check, much higher than the payment for painting.

The painter was surprised and said, “Sir, you've already paid me for painting your boat!”

The owner replied, “This is not for the paint job. This is for repairing the hole in my boat.”

“Ah! But that was such a small service...certainly it's not worth paying me such a high amount for something so insignificant.”

“My dear friend, you do not understand. Let me tell you what happened. When I asked you to paint my boat, I forgot to mention the hole. When the boat dried, my children took it and went on a fishing trip. They did not know there was a hole and they are not strong swimmers. I was away from home at the time.

When I returned and noticed they had taken the boat, I was desperately worried for their well-being because I remembered the boat had a hole. Imagine my relief and joy when I saw them safely return from fishing. I examined the boat and found that you had repaired the hole!

You see, now, what you did? You did not simply paint my boat. You did not simply repair a small hole. You saved the lives of my children! I do not have enough money to repay you for your 'insignificant' good deed.”

Friends, may we all help, sustain, wipe tears, listen attentively, and quietly repair the 'leaks' we find, as we are able. We may not know the greater need God is meeting through us, but when we care for one another, we glorify our Father in heaven and spread the love of Christ to a lost and hurting world.

Along the way, we may have repaired many 'holes in the boat' simply by noticing others, smiling, or doing what we may see as small, insignificant acts of kindness. There are no small or insignificant acts of kindness.

God bless you, friends.

~Brenda

We love because (God) first loved us." ~1 John 4:19

"For we are (God's) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." ~Ephesians 2:10

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking merely to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. ~Philippians 2:3-4