November 18,1996
Dear Br. Moore:
Sevilla and I regret that we did not have enough time to get acquainted with you and your wife last March at the funeral for our son. We have not forgotten your display of concern for our loss and your willingness to attend a funeral for someone whom you never met.
People seldom forget little acts of kindness, especially from
total strangers. I remember an incident that occurred nearly thirty
nears ago, that illustrates the lasting effects of a simple act
of thoughtfulness. I was visiting Europe and was spending several
days in Germany, staying at a youth hostile. It was my birthday,
and I was lonely. Calling home, I spoke to my parents for fifteen
minutes. This was rather unsatisfactory, as they found it difficult
to express true sentiments, especially my father who was as cold
as an ice berg when it came to feelings, especially for me.
The next morning, I was checking out of the youth hostile, and
the woman receptionist happened to notice, from my hostile card,
that it was my birthday, and wished me, a perfect stranger, whom
she would never see again, a happy birthday. This surprise courtesy,
from a stranger, was more rewarding then my $35 phone call home.
I remember another instance of unexpected kindness, even longer
ago then this one. I was attending a camp for Methodist young
people when I was about 12. On Sunday morning, the boys of our
cabin, decided to go down to the lake to study our Sunday school
lesson. As they sat on the dock and dabbled their feet in the
water, while they read their lesson, I was feeling rather left
out as I could not see well enough to read the material. A camp
counselor, with more insight then most men posses, saw my dilemma
and took me to another dock and read the lesson aloud so I could
participate in the discussion. I have never forgotten his kindness
even though I have forgotten his name.
An act of kindness never goes unnoticed. We may disregard it,
but Christ never overlooks a kindness shown to any of his children.
(I include adults in this category. When God looks at us, we are
all children in his sight.)
He identifies himself with us so that an act of charity shown
to one of His children is an act of benevolence shown to Him,
just as an gift of ingratitude or neglect is regarded as done
to Himself, in the person of His children. Thus, when we do something
for someone else without expectation of reward, recognition, or
repayment, it is as if it were done to Christ. Can you imagine
Christ’s joy when he sees us doing for others, as if we were
doing it for Him.
It often takes such little effort for us to say something kind
or do something thoughtful for someone else, yet, these little
acts last throughout eternity and we will meet them again in heaven.
What joy it is to share these little moments of kindness with
another. We have, within our power, the ability to make someone
happy with very little effort. Just a simple word of kindness,
an unselfish act, a little courtesy, a word of thanks, a smile,
a friendly handshake or a letter or card is enough to cheer a
discouraged soul or brighten the a dark and dreary day. We little
know or realize how important these thoughtful deeds of kindness
are to another person. Yet we are frequently to busy, with our
little problems, to share Christ with someone else in the form
of these little courtesies and mercies.
To leave words unspoken, that we might say in a thoughtless moment,
is a manifestation of mercy, for they might wound another person
and be the means of sending them into eternity unprepared to meet
their Lord. It is so simple to represent Christ to others but
it does take thoughtfulness and sensitivity. It also takes a personal
knowledge of the person to know just which words will encourage
and which will discourage. We all react differently to the same
sentiments, so some sensitivity and discretion are necessary.
But Christ can provide just the right word to speak if we are
on friendly terms with Him.
We have a small missionary field right around us and it costs
us almost nothing to witness for the Lord. I call this “smile”
evangelism. A smile a day keeps the devil away.
May the Lord bless you and your wife. We hope to meet again, if
not in this world then certainly in heaven where we will hear
from Christ the highest commendation it is possible to give a
human being without giving us a big head, “Well done, thou
good and faithful servant.” Won’t that be nice. It will
be worth it all just to see Jesus and hear from Him the results
of our “smile” evangelism.
May the Lord bless you. Your brother in Christ.
Allen Benson