Be kind to one another
Ephesians 4:32

(A cherished friend shared the following story via the internet.)

A farmer had some puppies he wanted to sell. He painted a sign to advertise the four pups, and set about nailing it to a fence post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the nails into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of a little boy. "Mister," he said, "I want to buy one of your puppies." "Well," said the farmer, "these puppies come from fine parents and cost a lot of money." The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then, reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out some change and held it up to the farmer. "I have thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?" "Sure," said the farmer, And with that said, he let out a whistle. "Here Dolly," he called. Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly and four little balls of fur.

Now, as the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse. Slowly another little ball appeared, this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up. "I want that one," the little boy said - pointing to the runt. The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, "Son, you don't want want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like other dogs." The little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and rolled up one leg of this trousers. In doing so, he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe. Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "You see, sir, I don't run very well myself; and he needs some one who understands."

With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the little pup and handed it to the little boy. "How much?" asked the boy. "No charge," answered the farmer.

Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, help us understand what Henry James meant when he said, "Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. The third is to be kind." Amen

Contributed by Dick
Sunday May 30, 2010
Liturgical Year C Week 27
Sunday Gospel reading:
The Holy Trinity
First Sunday after Pentecost