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Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Oh, The Things We May Do

 

Many of you have told me that you like the editorials that are based on some of our psalms and hymns, and since I do also I'm going to present a hymn-based editorial today, however I'm going to combine it with another "basis" that I like, that being history. I hope that you find it interesting and that it serves you well.

There is an old hymn (not in our present songbook) entitled "Oh, The Things We May Do." The theme of this hymn is about some of the "little things" Christians can do that give evidence of an active faith. It points these things out by asking questions such as: "Have you lifted a stone from your brother's way?" and "Have you lovingly touched some frail, toilworn hand" or "Shared with someone their heavy load."

Other "questions" in the song are: "Have you spoken a word full of hope and cheer" and "Have you held up your light thro' the shadows dark so that somebody else might see." The chorus of the song answers those questions by saying: "Oh, the things we may do, you and I, you and I. Oh, the love we can give if we try. Just a word or a song as we're passing along. They will count in the great by and by."

I guess my thought about the lesson of this editorial is this - never underestimate the "little things." It may seem like a small thing to us, but we might never know how "big" it is to the recipient. Christ told us how "big" little things are when He spoke of the "widow's mites" in Mark 12:41-44.

And now, allow me to slip into the "history" basis of our editorial and see if I can't tie our thoughts together. During a conversation between several men one day, one of them remarked that he had learned to be especially careful and thankful for small things. He went on to tell them about how a pair of socks had changed the entire course of his life. Following is my synopsis of his story.

He said that he had once intended to take a boat trip with some friends, but two days before they were to have left, he had injured his foot while chopping wood. It was only a small cut, but he had been wearing a pair of home-made socks and the blue dye in them had caused an infection in the wound. Because of this he had to stay home and therefore, missed the boat trip.

While his friends were gone on the trip and he was recuperating at home, a Gospel meeting was held in his town and, having nothing else to do, he went to hear the preacher. He described the preacher as being a "powerful" speaker and the sermon touched him deeply. So deeply that he obeyed the Gospel and was baptized "into the kingdom."

Because of his conversion, he decided to change his life in many ways. He now had new desires and purposes. He had been born in a log cabin to poor and uneducated parents, so he determined that, in order to better serve God, he needed to obtain an education and he went about doing so.

His "new desires and purposes" and his desire to "better serve God" resulted in his becoming a scholar, a Civil War hero, a Brigadier General and a U.S. Congressman. But, more than that, he became a minister and a elder for the Church of Christ.

But, there's more to the story about our man who had his life changed by a little thing like a pair of socks. You see, he eventually held another office and upon his election to it, had to resign his eldership in the Church. When Brother James A. Garfield relinquished his eldership he said, "I resign the highest office in the land to become President of the United States."

Unfortunately, about 4 months after taking office, the President was shot by an attorney who was embittered over not receiving a political appointment he had wanted. President Garfield lingered on for about 80 days before succumbing to infection and internal bleeding.

Look at what resulted from a "little thing" like a minor infection caused by a pair of socks. We can never know what some "little thing" we do today might bring about years from now. What heart took hope from a little show of care and went on to do great things for The Lord.

Think about it. Someone did a "little thing" like inviting a friend to a Gospel meeting. Do you think that person had any idea what the results of that invitation would have on James A. Garfield? Or, of the effect Bro. Garfield would have on his fellow Christian brothers and sisters, and indeed, on the citizens of this country. Never underestimate the power and effect of something that might seem small at the time it's done. Its effect might just be far-reaching. Like - to heaven.

Ron Covey

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