It Really Works!

AUTHOR: Joshua Goodling

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through medical school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.

Instead of a meal, he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry and so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"

"You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness." He said, "Then I thank you from my heart." As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strengthened also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Years later, that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.

Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, he went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown, he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day, he gave special attention to the case.

After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested from the business office to pass the final billing to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge, and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words:

"PAID IN FULL WITH ONE GLASS OF MILK....

(Signed)
Dr. Howard Kelly."

It always amazes me how many people never seem to fully understand the truth about kindness and putting others first. I talk to people all of the time about kindness, trying to inspire them to make a difference and do things for others. Many of these people smile, nod their head, or state some form of agreement with me, and then go on about their daily lives as if they never were told about what a difference they can make, and how much happier they would be if they would just put forth a little effort and be kind.

And then of course, there are the ones who think; "Hey, I let someone pull in front of me on the interstate this morning....what more do you want?", not realizing that true kindness comes from the heart.

A lot of people seem to be "too busy" to take the time and do things for others, or they wonder "What am I going to get in return?". However, if you really want to reap the rewards of kindness, you must do things not expecting anything in return.

Believe me, I can tell you from experience "True Kindness" really does work. When you actually take the time to do something special for that co-worker, cook a meal for your neighbor, go out of your way to help someone, the happiness you receive in return is more than worth the effort.

You'll even find that being kind to those who hurt you is worth a LOT more than trying to get revenge.

A lady owned two prize chickens that got out of their run and busied themselves in the garden of an ill-tempered neighbor. The man caught the hens, wrung their necks, and threw them back over the fence. Naturally, the woman was upset, but she didn't get angry and rush over and scream at him. Instead, she took the birds, dressed them out, and prepared two chicken pies. Then she delivered one of the freshly baked pies to the man who had killed her hens. She apologized for not being more careful about keeping her chickens in her own yard. Her children, expecting an angry scene, hid behind a bush to see the man's face and hear what he'd say. But he was speechless! That chicken pie and apology filled him with a burning sense of shame. But she wasn't trying to get even. Her motive in returning good for evil was to show her neighbor true Christian love, and maybe even bring about a change of heart.