About ten years ago, a young and very
successful executive named Josh
was traveling down a Chicago neighborhood street. He was going a
bit too
fast in his sleek, black, 12 cylinder Jaguar XKE, which was only
two months old.
He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and
slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed,
no child
darted out, but a brick sailed out and-WHUMP! -- it smashed into
the Jag's shiny back side door!
SCREECH...!!!! Brakes slammed! Gears ground into reverse, and
tires
madly spun the Jaguar back to the spot from where the brick had
been thrown.
Josh jumped out of the car, grabbed the kid and pushed him up
against a parked car.
He shouted at the kid, "What was that all about and who are
you? Just
what the heck are you doing?!" Building up a head of steam,
he went on.
"That's my new Jag, that brick you threw is gonna cost you a
lot of money. Why did you throw it?"
"Please, mister, please...I'm sorry! I didn't know what else
to do!"
Pleaded the youngster. "I threw the brick because no one
else would
stop!" Tears were dripping down the boy's chin as he pointed
around the parked car.
"It's my brother, mister," he said. "He rolled off
the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't
lift him up." Sobbing, the boy asked the executive,
"Would you please help me
get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy
for me."
Moved beyond words, the young executive tried desperately to
swallow
the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. Straining, he lifted the
young
man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and
wiped the
scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be
OK. He then
watched the younger brother push him down the sidewalk toward
their home.
It was a long walk back to the sleek, black, shining, 12 cylinder
Jaguar XKE -a long and slow walk. Josh never did fix the side
door of his Jaguar.
He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast
that
someone has to throw a brick at him to get his attention...Some
bricks are softer than others. Feel for the
bricks of life coming at you. For all the negative things we have
to say
to ourselves, God has positive answers.
You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)
You say: "I'm too tired"
God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John 13:34)
You say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians12:9 & Psalm
91:15)
You say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)
You say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)
You say: "I'm not able"
God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: "It's not worth it"
God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28)
You say: "I can't forgive myself"
God says: I FORGIVE YOU (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: "I can't manage"
God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)
You say: "I'm afraid"
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)
You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)
You say: "I don't have enough faith"
God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)
You say: "I'm not smart enough"
God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: "I feel all alone"
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)