Midweek Encouragement - "The Last Word"

"The Last Word”

  ^{You know who they are. Some people like to have the last word or the last text in the string of texts or the last email response. I don’t know why that is, but it just is. I’m not faulting them. That’s just how they’re made.}

^{This “last word” thing reminds me of a parking lot story. A woman in a fancy luxury car was waiting patiently in a grocery store’s parking lot for a parking space to open. She drove up and down between rows until finally she saw a man with a cart full of grocery bags head for his car. She followed him and parked behind him, waiting while he opened his trunk and put the bags in it. Finally, he got into his car and backed out.}

^{Just as she was getting ready to pull forward into the space, a young man in a little sports car . . . coming from the opposite direction . . . turned in front of her, zipped into the space, got out of his car, and started walking away. You can imagine that the woman was livid! She shouted from her big luxury car, “Hey, young man! I was waiting for that parking space.”}

^{The teenager responded, “Sorry, lady, but that’s how it is when you’re young and quick.” She instantly put her car in gear, stomped on the gas pedal, and crashed into the sports car, crushing its right rear fender.}

^{Now it was the young man’s turn to jump up and down, shouting, “What are you doing?”}

^{The woman in the big luxury car calmly responded, “Well, son, that’s how it is when you’re old and rich.”}

^{Wouldn’t you think that most of this world’s problems and conflicts could probably be resolved if, instead of retaliation and revenge, apologies were made all around? There are exceptions, I’m sure . . . like the evil attack of Hamas on Israel. But when it comes to parking lot skirmishes, putting others’ needs before our own seems to be the way to go. And certainly, saying, “I’m sorry” would seem like the best last word to say to someone we’ve offended.}

^

^{Hey, let’s try putting others before ourselves until next Wednesday and see what happens. Send me your stories and see if it works for you!}

^{Pastor Dale}

Pastor Dale (PD) and Pamela his wife are honored to serve the Mt. Laurel Church of God. If this Mid-Week Encouragement has helped you, perhaps it may encourage someone else. Feel free to share this message with anyone you choose. And if you'd like to receive PD's Mid-Week Encouragement, just send an email to (kingdomguy@gmail.com) and I'll accommodate your request.