SHOWING YOU CARE

President Thomas Jefferson

On a bitter cold Virginia night, an old man waited on a path near the river.  He was hoping somebody on a horse would come by and carry him across.  His beard was glazed with frost and his body was numb before he finally heard horses coming.  Anxiously he watched as several horsemen passed without even noticing him. 
Finally, when only one rider remained, the old man caught his eye and asked, “Sir, would you mind giving me a ride to the other side?”  Graciously, the rider helped him on to his horse and, sensing he was half-frozen, decided to take him all the way home.   As they rode, the horsemen asked, “Why didn’t you ask one of the others to help you? I was the last one what if I’d refused?”   The old man said, “I’ve lived a while, son, and I know people pretty well.  When I looking into their eyes I saw no concern at all for me, so I knew it was useless to ask.   But when I looked into your eyes, I saw compassion and kindness”

At the door of the old man’s house the rider stopped, looked up and silently prayed, “God, may I never get too busy with my own affairs that I fail to respond to the needs of others.”

And with that, PRESIDENT THOMAS JEFFERSON turned and directed his horse back toward the White House!   Copied from A fresh word for today!

PS  President Thomas Jefferson was the 2nd president in the White House.  One of his quotes,  “The only way our constitution can survive is to have a moral and spiritual people.”

VERSE   “Be kind to strangers, for some… have entertained angels without realizing it.” Hebrews 13:2