THE GOOD SAMARITAN

With all your differences in personal circumstances and past experiences, there are precious opportunities and blessing that lie ahead.  There may be times when you will find yourself invited by the Lord to serve someone in need and perhaps at a time when it will not seem convenient. It may appear to be an unpleasant and perhaps even impossible task. When the call comes, you may rationalize that you are not needed or that surely someone else could easily do the task.

Remember that when the Lord lets us encounter someone in distress, we honor the good Samaritan for what he did not do, as much as for what he did. He did not pass by on the other side even though the beaten traveler on the road was a stranger and perhaps an enemy. He did what he could for the beaten man and then put in place a specific plan for others to do more. He did that because he understood that helping may require more than what one person can do.

            Luke 10:25-37
“And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

“He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

“And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

“And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

“But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

“And Jesus answering said, a certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

“And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

“And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

“But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

“And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

“And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

“Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

“And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.”

The only earthy possession that anyone will take with them when they enter into the next life, will be their good works. 

By Linda Sumner Urza, written for One fine day

VALENTINE'S DAY, A DAY TO LOVE

Life is too short to miss the opportunities of love.

Mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again.  (From the teachings of Howard W. Hunter)

THREE RED MARBLES

This story first appeared in the October 1975 Ensign Magazine.  It's one of my favorites for it exemplifies the power of Christlike love.  Enjoy! 

One day Mr. Miller was bagging some early potatoes for me. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas.

      I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.

      Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller and  the ragged boy next to me.

     "Hello Barry, how are you today?"

     "H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas ... sure look good."

      "They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?"

      "Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time."

      "Good. Anything I can help you with?"

      "No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas."

      "Would you like to take some home?"

      "No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with."

      "Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?"

      "All I got's my prize marble here."

      "Is that right? Let me see it."

      "Here 'tis. She's a dandy."

      "I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort  of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?"
      "Not zackley ... but almost."

      "Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble."

      "Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller."

      Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me.  With a smile she said, "There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one,  perhaps."

       I left the stand smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering.

      Several years went by, each more rapid that the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his viewing that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them.

      Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could. Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts ... all very professional looking.

      They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes  followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

      Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and mentioned the story she had told me about the marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket. "Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size ... they came to pay their debt."

       "We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world," she confided, "but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho."

      With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband.

      Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

By W. E. Petersen

    "...love one another; as I have loved you.... By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."    John 13:34-35