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Topics: Anger, Consequences, Tragedy, Suffering
One of the great Scottish poets of this century was William Soutar. His life was a tragic one. He died in 1943 aged only forty-five.
For twenty-five years he suffered a debilitating illness, and for the last
ten years of his life he was completely helpless. Yet he had this great
gift of writing and in spite of his own tragedy he was a man of wit and
a storyteller of some note. This is one of his stories that tells of the
importance and effect of little things.
There was once a wood cutter's wife who forgot to put salt in her
husband's morning porridge. When he angrily complained, she told him
that he was a fool to make such a fuss about so trifling a matter. This
infuriated the wood cutter, and commencing work in the forest he lashed
out at a tree with such force and venom that the axe head flew off. It
injured his employer's favourite horse that was being led to the
blacksmith's shop. That horse was to have taken his employer, a nobleman
and an important man in the district, to a meeting of Lords that was to
discuss their differences with the King. Because of his anger and foul
mood due to the need to arrange for another horse, he successfully argued
for an uprising against the King.
In the rebellion that followed many were killed, and there followed a
period of poverty, famine and unrest. This rebellion, loss of life and
suffering happened because a wood cutter's wife forgot to salt her
husband's porridge.
The point of this story is to relate how little things can have a
widespread effect. Rather like throwing a stone into a pond and seeing
the ripples spread out and reach the shore.
If we are young, middle aged or even retired we may feel that there is
little we can do, or want to do, that will greatly affect others. This
is untrue. Every action, every good deed, every performed service,
every outreach, has an effect on someone, somewhere.
We are God's hands and feet - have you used yours today?
I know of a mother who became so involved and busy that one evening
shefailed to clean the shoes and prepare the clothes for her three
youngchildren ready for school the next day. The day started badly and
in a rush. The children went to school in tears. Mother and father
went to work in an unhappy mood. It was a bad day for the whole family
and no doubt for those who worked alongside the parents.
And all because......
Have a good week. Pastor Ron
Posted From [The Sermon Fodder List]