Honkers or Wavers

I Thessalonians 5:11a,  "Encourage one another and build each other up."

      All too often, we can fall into the bad habit of focusing on each others' flaws and self-righteously pointing out each others' failures. 

We all have shortcomings, but, at the same time, most people have much to recommend them--talents, personality, character, intelligence.  We could be encouraging each other, helping each other to grow and improve.  We could be enjoying each other and working together for our mutual benefit, if we would concentrate on the assets of other people rather than their liabilities, if our perspective would be positive rather than negative.

      One of my all-time favorite devotionals was written by a lady named Bonnie Lukes and was published in "The Daily Guideposts." 

Bonnie's husband was driving them home in rush hour traffic one day when their car began to sputter and stall.  She said,  "Impatient commuters careened past, blasting their horns and mouthing angry words."  It made Bonnie feel disheartened to encounter such irate behavior.

      The following day Bonnie was pushing her mother in a wheel chair across a wide, busy street.  The light changed when they were midway across.  Bonnie was relieved to see that the motorists were patiently waiting and were waving her mother across the street.  Her mother was happily waving back.  Bonnie's conclusion: " THERE ARE WAVERS, AND THERE ARE HONKERS."  My questions:  Which are you?  Which do you want to be?

      We have no way of knowing the battles that other people are fighting in their lives.  Surely we do not want to add to their burdens but instead would seek to lift their spirits.

      I don't know who wrote the following poem, but it gives us food for thought.  May it be our prayer for today.

                   "Lord, give me eyes lest I, as people often will,

                    Should pass by someone's Calvary and think it just a hill."  Amen.