Easter Aftermath

Easter Aftermath

"Gone But Not Forgotten" (thank you Peter Frampton)

Now that the Easter event is past, 

what is your #1 take-away from that day?

I think the example of Jesus' life is primarily about him

standing up for humanity, with the appropriate response 

of humankind to stand up with him. I encourage every

Christian to consider this welcomed response:

One must be willing to open one's heart and 

allow God to enter. Yet, it is God who will seek

you, through calling, ontological shock

(encountering non-existence or end-of-life experience),

or an unselfish act of love. Once your heart is open;

You will see your environment differently. You will value

relationships differently. You will rearrange your 

priorities. You will look for opportunities to make 

a difference.

 Serve the needs of the less

fortunate and reach out to others. Perform 

"random acts of kindness!"

You will need to revitalize your faith, or re-fuel your faith by 

reading your Bible, praying in private and attending church.

The Sacrament As Music!

From the Association to the Ventures...

Music Impacts the World and Religious Belief!   

From Telstar to Tommy James...

Music Impacts The Way We Think!

Explore What Music Says To You.

     Rod Stewart celebrates you're "Every Rock 'n Roll Song to Me" on his most recent album 'Another Country.'(2015) Can the same apply to contemporary music as an expression of your faith? Let's go back...to The Sacrament As Music.

"Hear the sweet chord, how it touches my soul, 

Hold on to it, don't let it go.

Feel the hard guitar strokes, 

they shake me so, Grab for them, don't let them go.

The voice, its message clear; it calls me..."

     And so begins the opening notes of the "The Sacrament As Music." It is hard to say why music has had such a hold on me; perhaps the influence of my father, Glen or oldest brother, Bob. Perhaps, the trumpet and cornet, which I still play today. It may have been the power of Top 40 radio in the early 60's. It could very well have been the Beatles!
     Regardless, music is part of my DNA. So much so, in 1973, while still in seminary, I began to explore music as a fundamental expression of our culture. My theological foundation is in the teachings of Paul Tillich and his school of thought which summarizes our ultimate belief (concern); the ground of our being, to be in Jesus and love for Christ as summarized in the Bible, remembered in Church History and given expression in Culture. Throughout the summer of 1973 while I was performing a ministry in the town where I grew up (Wooster, OH); a night ministry in local bars & taverns, a youth art project and an industrial chaplaincy (Rubbermaid), I spent my free time developing a series of essays called "The Sacrament as Music". Basically, it was a blending of music with scripture and literature. Influenced by the early performers of "Jesus Rock", and mainstream rock artists, I discovered the groundbreaking work of Larry Norman, Barry McGuire, Russ Ballard, Mark Farner and Phil Keaggy. I further explored what other mainstream artists and groups were contributing to a greater understanding of music and religious expression, for example; The Call. This work led to a more expressive written curricular work used in youth ministry and Christian Education.

The Never Published Book

Why Are You Here, You Little Booger?

Why did you come into our lives, you little booger?

To share my things, and to make me mad when you did?

To get the best, when I got what was left?

I'm glad you did; you make me laugh,

you listen to me and hear my stories.

You are in my life and we need each other;

brother to brother, sister to sister

and we can never let go.

d.dougjones

Hey You Little Booger! 

MY BLUE HEAVEN

For Alice from Glen

Heaven is a network of integrated

electrical circuits with contiguous

passive layers where souls

magically and mysteriously

interdigitate upon one another

creating immeasurable energy

for the benefit of their loved ones.

d.dougjones

Experimental photography (1934) - Alice &

Glen Jones  Dundee, OH

Greenback Dollar Epitaph

Say what you will, think what you might.

It was my life to live until the very end.

In the event I offended you in what I said or did,

please rest assured it is now laid to rest.

Having plead my case, you may now offer your rebuttal.

All recompense be yours, 

I am most content to rest In Peace.

d.dougjones

When you get to be a certain age, your thoughts often drift to the afterlife, or whatever happens when you cease to breathe. You also think about the legacy you will leave behind; whether or not you even care or concern yourself with what people may say about you, you do leave behind a memory bit for others to play back. As a minister who celebrates life in the service of baptism and praises a life in the service of thanksgiving, this conversation is even more meaningful to me.

On the advent of the birth of my first granddaughter (March 22, 2016), I remember the well known wish of my two older brothers for a baby sister. Obviously, they did not get their wish, and I sure did make them pay!

(Note from Dad on back of picture: "Note left by 'Santa Claus' 

Christmas Eve 1948 at our home at 118 W. 13th Street, Dover, OH. 

The p.s. is in reference to Tom's letter to Santa Claus that appeared 

in the 12-6-1948 Dover Daily Reporter, wishing for a sister.

I will get my wish for a granddaughter who I will unashamedly spoil and share stories embellished from beyond. A granddaughter who may even seek my advice time and again. One of my first pieces of advice will be from my father (her great-grand father): "Life Is Like a Fast Train; Enjoy The Ride, You Will Arrive at Your Final Destination Before You Know It!" And this a mother's lament: "

A Simple Birth

A Simple Birth

The Greatest Gift is Often 

The One We Least Expect.

A simple birth, aided by another; one who Mary knew quite well;

In the lower room of their common peasant home,

A room where animals came to lay.

Surrounded by a donkey, the family cow

and perhaps a sheep or two,

Mary gave birth to the first of her children;

Yeshua by birth, we know him as Jesus.

Mary’s relative, Elizabeth cradled baby Yeshua. 

And heard the cry of his first breath.

She cleansed him, then nestled Him

in the warmth of a blanket,

and laid him upon his mother’s breast,

where she first suckled him;

In the room where animals came to lay, 

simplicity was the manner of His birth;

Poverty, his condition—yet neither did it matter;

Simple, or poor. More than enough,

For it was  Joy which burst forth

And taught us the meaning of this wonderful night;

Simplicity, poverty and joy, borne out of God’s love for us.

Black Friday Thanksgiving

Black Friday Thanks

This is my Thanksgiving Eve sermon. I hope, amid all the rush of this day (Black Friday), you do not forget your Thanksgiving blessings and prayers.

Thanksgiving Eve Joint Worship Service

St. John (Plum Hill) - Zion (Addieville)

November 25, 2015

Words of Welcome:

Still the beating of my heart, let me feel your touch, O Lord; help me feel secure in the wonder of your love. Accept my thanks for all the right things in my life, and the love I hold for others; may your love extend to all. 

Welcome, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; creator, redeemer and sustainer. Amen.

Homily:

“Hungering for Thanksgiving”

I have often wondered on Thanksgiving Day for what we give thanks. I remember the many times, as a child and during young adulthood, raising a family, giving thanks while we sat and awaited the carving of the turkey; giving thanks for the many blessings we had received. Thanks for good health, thanks for a good job, thanks for being lucky and being in the right place at the right time, thanks for our children and loved ones who have prospered during the past year, thanks for the promotions and pay increases we received, thanks not to have been infected with the flu virus, thanks for good grades, thanks for plenty to eat; and so on and so on, and so on.

Is thanksgiving a time of thanks for what we have received as individuals or as family members? Or is it a time we thank God for when we had been encouraged to go to church, to work at church functions, to give regularly when the offering plate is passed, to look at social issues critically and make decisions as a good steward for this beautiful and plentiful planet earth? To give thanks for seeking justice for all God’s children? Is Thanksgiving a time we learn to give thanks for the sacrifices we make, without bitterness, bringing us one step closer to the realm of Jesus.

How does Jesus want us to discern this time of giving thanks? Three weeks ago, one of the lectionary readings was from the Gospel of Mark, where Jesus observed the generosity of a widow as she gave all she had to the Temple treasury. Do we give thanks for her generosity or do we question a culture which expects so much from the least of our society and much less from those of us who have been so richly blessed? Do we give thanks that we know the value of labor, and expect our neighbor to labor as we do? Or is our righteousness defined by what we do in the sight of God, and not with regard to what our neighbor does?

Thanksgiving is a time of reflection and discernment of what our place is in our immediate family, our church family and the family of all humankind. These times we are living in are filled with joys unsurpassed and tragedies unimagined. Jesus’ message to us tonight is to celebrate with joy when one of the least of these is fed and welcomed. We give thanks you are here tonight and you support the work of our churches in meeting the thanksgiving needs of the least of God’s children. We give thanks many of you have shared food with the hungry and given monetarily to help the transients find their way during life’s difficult times. As the earliest of native Americans helped the Pilgrims in 1621 overcome starvation, we give thanks for the lessons we have learned from them and the joy of sharing what we claim as ours,  on this Eve of Thanksgiving 2015. Amen.

Starting Over

"Starting Over"

When Suddenly You Need to Re-evaluate Your Place in This World

     The words of John Lennon ring true. Starting over; an amazing concept, and yet as it is as much about life giving, it is as much about life denying. I have not only wondered about it, I have experienced it. It is most apparent when the impact is sudden and irreversible. Most often, you think of divorce and death, yet it extends to other areas of our life.  
     Recently, a friend (Jan Hutchins) asked that I share my thoughts and feelings on how people cope with the sudden changes which occur in their lives, which if not confronted in a meaningful manner can lead to devastating results in one's personal health and personal relationships with others. In a more global sense, how it can build up or tear down broader based cultural, religious and societal relationships.
    During what was one of the most difficult periods in my life, as I faced divorce and the consequences of it, I read from an article in Psychology Today, which helped to provide some clarity for me as I moved forward. The tone of the article was how any decision to divorce or step outside the marriage has moral consequences, because the marriage relationship was based upon a promise and made in covenant with another. However, when a relationship is no longer mutually beneficial and becomes destructive, that relationship must end. And although ending a married relationship may cause pain, pain is no reason to avoid the end. Pain smacks in the face of the old familiar song lyric, "if it feels good, do it!" My take away from the article was this quote, "there are valid moral principles which are self-focused, the most essential being that of self-preservation."

1. FACE YOUR DEMONS

     I believe in the case of divorce and separation, self-preservation can be morally validated, yet it is legitimate only if one accepts responsibility for one's actions. Self-responsibility is vital to self-preservation and self-survival. Self-responsibility begins with self-evaluation. Self-evaluation includes facing the demons within you, and in the case of many people, the demons within you which work as barriers in building a relationship with another person. 
     I believe we all carry demons within us; it is part of our humanity, otherwise we would be divine, and as a person of faith I believe there to be only one self-actualized human being who carries that moniker. Some of the most prevalent demons in a destructive relationship include; control, deceit and detachment. Together these become a harmful cocktail, leading to ill health, misery and damaged familial relationships.  It could be argued each of the three aforementioned demons are a result of insecurity, which may well be the case, but each should be examined individually. Control leads to the denigration of another person, because you want  to control an outcome. Deceit is an outgrowth of control, hiding and playing games (which in most cases evolves around money and finances but also adulterous behavior). Deceit destroys one's character, which is hard to earn back. Once your character is besmirched, there is little hope to rebuild it. Detachment is an elusive demon, as it impacts your ability to be intimate. Without intimacy, a relationship with another is hard to build. Whether it is love-making or empathy for another, intimacy opens your heart to another person in ways which lay bare your true feelings.

2. FIND SOLACE

     I often turn to music to find solace; cheer, support and relief, and in the case of flawed relationships Barbra Streisand's interpretation of the song "Try to Win A Friend" rings true. Written by Larry Gatlin, the song expresses a hopeful attitude when you go through difficult times; remaining friends, even through the hurt and pain cut deep.

"When it's over, really over,

There ain't nothin' can start it over again.

Pack your bags and leave, ain't no use to grieve.

Though you've lost a lover, try to win a friend.

The partings easier when there are smiles instead of tears.

In your dreams you see that moment even if you live a million years.

Shake hands goodbye then, for remember when;

Though you've lost a lover, try to win a friend.

Let him go home, and cry your eyes out,

You'll only feel a little better.

Try to keep your body busy and let your mind forget him.

'Cause when it's over, really over,

There ain't nothin' can start it over again.

Shake hands goodbye then, for remember when;

Though you've lost a lover, try to win a friend.

Though you leave behind a lover,

Leave behind a friend.

Try to win a friend."

Songwriters
LARRY GATLIN

Published by
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

3. LIVE THE STRESS

     In 1981, David Bowie joined voices with Freddie Mercury and Queen and created a heightened level of musical stress with "Under Pressure." 

"Pressure pushing down on me, pressing down on you...

Insanity laughs under pressure we're cracking

Can't we give ourselves one more chance?

Why can't we give love that one more chance?

...Love dares you to change our way of caring about ourselves."

     Stress is good. Use it as the fuel of love to power you through crisis. Yes. Stress can increase blood pressure, but it can also help you focus. It can also help you make decisions, and meet deadlines when otherwise you could not (it can be a motivator). Believe it or not, there is a form of good stress called EUSTRESS (American Academy of Family Physicians). [Eustress means beneficial stress - either psychological, physical (e.g. exercise) or biochemical/radiological (hormesis). The term was coined by endocrinologist Hans Selye, consisting of the Greek prefix 'eu'- meaning "good", and 'stress', literally meaning "good stress"-ref: Wikipedia]. Physicians educate that creativity, problem-solving, change and satisfaction are enhanced when you reach a EUSTRESS equilibrium.  

     As a person of faith, I channel my stress through prayer which helps bring clarity to a problem and courage to respond and enact a plan of action. Stress can lead you to seek resources to help you respond; motivating you. Remembering Reinhold Niebuhr's advice..."accepting the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference;" (Serenity Prayer) stress can help you prioritize your time and help you establish priorities and better use of your time.
     We live with stress and by learning to cope with it helps us become productive with our time and more capable of timely decision-making. It helps us ward off the negative aspects of  stress called 'distress'.

4. SMILE and LAUGH AT ADVERSITY

     The great lesson I learned from my mother, Alice was "smile, always smile." Use laughter to your advantage. Over time I have learned this lesson and I have also learned the health advantages of laughter and smiling. In my early days of retail, working in the stock room of Freedlander's in Wooster, OH, my department manager, Royal Snyder reminded me "it takes fewer muscles to smile than to frown, so always smile, Don." The health benefits of laughter and smiling are well-documented (HelpGuide.org): 

1. When you laugh, your body relaxes. Tension is relieved and medical experts say your muscles relax for up to 45 minutes.
2. When you laugh, your immune system is boosted. Stress hormones are reduced, immune cells and infection fighting antibodies are increased, enhancing your resistance to disease.
3. Endorphins: Feel good with endorphins! The body's natural feel-good chemicals promote and overall sense of well-being and can even help to temporarily relieve pain.
4. Your heart smiles with laughter. Vascular function is improved, blood flow increased, helping to protect against a heart attack.

     One of the attitudes I believe you must adopt when you deal with life changes and stress, in addition to finding humor in life situations,  is that perfection, which we often think is what we live for; is fleeting and if you follow the approach of taking 2 Steps Forward, invariably you will take 1 Step Back. That is progress and it also one way to approach stress in your life. Work on it little by little. Pete Hamm, late of the British rock band, Badfinger, who suffered from severe depressive disorder and a victim of his own suicide, lamented his search for perfection in his life. In the song, "Perfection", written for Badfinger's 3rd album, 'Straight Up', he writes:

"There is no real perfection, There'll be no perfect day...

There's no good revolution, Just power changing hands...

Successful conversation will take you very far...

There is no real perfection, There'll be no perfect man

There's no good kind of killing, Just power taking life

So listen to my song of life, You don't need a gun or a knife

Successful conversation can take you very far

Successful conversation can take you very far"

When suddenly you need to re-evaluate your place in this world, I suggest you face your demons head on, find solace in the things you enjoy, live your stress and laugh and smile at adversity. Find love, peace and happiness in the end.

School Bells Ring!

School Bells Ring!

And Children Sing...

Beall Ave. School - 1955  Wooster, OH

     It is again that time of year, when children and young adults return to their schools to continue their education. This summer I have prepared five children's sermons called "Kids Parables" based loosely on the Parables of Jesus and inspired by the book, "The Power of Parable" by John Dominic Crossan. Each of the five (5) presented here is short, less than 3 minutes in reading time. The fifth was written today, for worship on August 23rd.  I found the young people who have heard them were able to connect with each, and the adults responded favorably to the message. Oh, the title of this entry is taken from a retail clothing store (Robert Hall) ad that ran locally in northern Ohio (at about the same time the picture of Beall Ave Grade School was taken); "School bells ring, and children sing, it's back to Robert Hall again!"

Note: Since the time I originally published these short Kid's Parables in August, I have completed the Summer Series by publishing #6 & #7 (9-6-2015), and now #8 (9-13-2015) and sharing them during my Kid's Sermon, up and through this past Sunday. DJ

Kid’s Parables

1. The Story of the Lost Farm Pet and the Gift of Caring

Janie lived on a farm and she helped care for 2 dogs, 4 cats and 4 kittens. One day a kitten named “Cutie” wandered off. Janie liked all her animals, so when Cutie became lost, she went to look for her. She looked for Cutie everywhere, and she was so excited when she found Cutie, and Cutie was happy to see Janie too. Now when her sisters, who were older, asked her why she wasted her time looking for one little kitten (knowing there would probably be another litter), Janie said, “this one little kitten is just as special as each of you. I would look for you if you were lost, so why not look for little Cutie. Little Cutie is part of our family and is as special as any of us. So, come on be happy, Cutie is back with us!"

2. The Story of the Lost Money and the Gift of Appreciation

It was a beautiful day and Bobby was riding on his bike. It was really beautiful because he had an envelope with $100 on the back of his bike, and he was heading for the store to buy an I Pod. He had performed chores and helped out whenever and wherever he could to earn enough money to buy his very own I Pod. When he arrived at the store he turned to get his money, and he saw it was gone! Brokenhearted, feeling kinda dumb for what happened, he returned home the same way he came, hoping he would find his money on the road. When he got home, he saw his mom and the neighbor lady, Mrs. Smith in the front yard. Red faced and embarrassed he told his mom what happened and how he looked and looked for the lost money. That’s when Mrs. Smith opened her hand and showed Bobby she had found his money on the side of the road. He was so appreciative of Mrs. Smith, that he gave a portion of his hard-earned money, for he was so happy someone had found it and not kept it. (You know, “finder’s keepers, loser's weepers”). Two weeks later, Bobby went to the store with more money, secure in his pocket. Now he is listening to his favorite songs on his I Pod and thanking Mrs. Smith for being such a thoughtful person.

3. The Girl Who Cared Only About Herself

There was a young girl named Rachel, and she thought only about herself. She was always asking her Mom for advances on the work she did around the house, and even for the work she did for others. One day, she asked her Mom if she could have her share of the insurance policy her Mom had for herself. Now, that’s pretty selfish; her Mom was still alive! And yet, her Mom agreed. So Rachel, with her insurance share in hand, took off on a trip (by jet) to the Bahamas. She promptly wasted her money, eating junk food, buying jewelry and, tee-shirts for herself (which she didn’t need), giving money away to new found so-called friends who took advantage of her, and all other sorts of wasteful things; too many to mention. Needless to say, she quickly ran out of money, her so-called friends left her and she had to fend for herself. She had to get a job to support herself. She got a job cleaning out the cages at a chicken processing plant and then clean the floors after they had been processed. It was dirty, ugly work. With no place to stay, she saved what little money she could, and then hired on a boat back home. And who was waiting for her, when she got off the boat; her mom was waiting. Rachel thought her Mother would be angry, but she was smiling and hugged her when she saw her (even as smelly as she was)! Rachel learned a lot about love and understanding that day, and that to love oneself means to love others first. That’s what her mother did, putting others first, with no strings attached (loving unconditionally). “I love you mom,” said Rachel, who has now learned to love as her mother does.

4. The Mixed up Little Boy

There once was a young boy named Charlie who wanted so badly to find God. He thought, if he would put a penny in his piggy bank each day, he was sure to find God. He was told, “a penny saved is a penny earned.” So, he thought if he was saving up for God, God would be very pleased with him. For years he placed money in his piggy bank until the day his grandpa died. He was so upset he took his piggy bank to grandpa’s funeral at church. He thought if he would put the money in grandpa’s casket grandpa would come back to him and things would be the same as before he died. The Pastor saw what he was doing and asked Charlie why he was placing the piggy bank in Grandpa’s casket. Charlie told him about the money and seeing God and helping Grandpa come alive again. The Pastor said, “Charlie, did you know your Grandpa volunteered to help feed the hungry? I bet if you give what you saved to help feed the hungry, your Grandpa would be very happy and you would see the face of God on all the hungry people you feed.” Charlie did just that and now he see’s the face of his Grandpa on all the faces of the people he helps feed.

5. The Little Girl Who Grew In Beauty

Susie, was a little girl who had few friends; matter of fact, no one really liked her. First of all, she lived with her dad who was unemployed. They lived on food stamps and aid. They would go to the food pantry every other week. She didn’t have any new clothes, like the other kids, most of her clothes were second hand (used). She had one good dress she wore to Sunday School and church. And whenever she came home her dad would remind her to hang up her “one good dress” so it would be ready to wear next Sunday.

One day, on her way home from school, she saw a school friend who had a bloody nose and a bruise on his face. She stopped to help him. He said, a schoolmate hurt him and took his science fair homework. Susie gave him a Kleenex to wipe his nose and she took him home where her dad put some ice on his bruise. Susie’s friend said that she was the only one who stopped to help him; He said, “I guess it’s because people don’t like me.” Everyone else just passed by, and “one classmate crossed the street to avoid me.” Nobody even wanted to look at me.

Susie gained a friend on the day she helped a classmate. Her new friend asked her why she stopped to help him. She said, “I learned in Sunday School that Jesus teaches, ‘when you help those in need, you help me.” “What a friend we have in Jesus, and what a friend I have in you, Susie”, he said.

6. The Little Boy Who Stood Up

Johnny loved going to church and attending Sunday School. Sunday School was a different kind of school where he learned things he didn’t learn in regular school. His mom said that’s the way it should be. School is for one thing, church school is for another. Anyway, he got to see his friends he didn’t see every day at regular school. His teachers were really cool; he understood the stories they taught and he really liked singing songs at the start of each Sunday School class.

He liked going to grown up church also. He liked saying the things that his mom and dad said during church service and singing the songs. One day, while he was sitting with mom and dad (they usually sat at the same place every Sunday, near the middle of the church), an older lady came in and walked up to the place where they were sitting; she looked kinda crumpled and wore an old dress. She was looking for a place to sit, when Johnny got up and offered her his seat.

Johnny stood up for someone he didn’t know and for someone who was very different from him. He stayed right by the old lady during the entire worship service (he was surprised she knew all the songs they sang, and all the other stuff they did) and when it was over, the crumpled old lady came up to him and said, “thank you, young man, I came back today because this is where I was baptized and you welcomed me, like God welcomed me when I was baptized. And this is where my family would sit. I will never forget you.” Because of Johnny’s example, many people who remembered the old lady came up and greeted her after church service. Johnny’s dad said, “you did the right thing by giving up your seat and helping to make her feel at home, because she is no different than you.”

7. The Little Boy & A Great Harvest

Little Jimmy lived on a farm at the edge of a big town. Jimmy attended Sunday School and church and he liked it, but he had friends who did not attend Sunday School every Sunday, and they seemed OK; so he didn’t understand why his Mom and Dad wanted him to attend. He didn’t see any difference between himself and his friends who didn’t go to church.

One Sunday he asked the minister why he had to come to church and Sunday School every Sunday. His pastor said, “you have been taught the parable of the seeds, do you remember that?” Jimmy said, “yes, but what does that have to do with me?”

“Do you have a brain,” asked his pastor. “Yes...”, said Jimmy. “Well your brain is like the 200 acres your father and mother have planted in corn this year. Because the seed corn was planted in good soil, rather than on rocks on or the road next to your farm; it will produce a good crop when it is harvested.” He continued, “when you come to Sunday School every Sunday, your teacher plants a seed in your brain; like helping others, being polite, making good decisions that don’t hurt people, and being fair. Remember when you bought presents for kids at the local orphanage, and when you helped serve meals to the hungry, or carried the books of a classmate you didn’t know, but who had a broken leg. That was because of the seeds that were planted in your mind and your brain.” Church and Sunday School helps your brain become good soil.

“That’s right,” said Jimmy, “those were things I did with my friends in Sunday School, helping others, and things I did. Thanks, Pastor; now I know why mom and dad make sure the seeds go on the good soil and not on rocks or on the road. They want a great harvest like you do and like Jesus does.”

8. The Rescue

Samuel was running home from school as fast as he could. He did not want to miss his favorite cartoon show, which started at 4 pm. He was determined to make it home in time, and nothing was going to stop him.

As he turned the corner from Main Street, onto his street, he heard a high pitched yelp. Not one yelp, but two and then three and four and five yelps; all in a row. Something was wrong, he thought. It sounded like an animal in trouble. But he couldn’t stop to see what was wrong. He had to get home to watch his favorite cartoon show. He couldn’t and he wouldn’t...but then he thought, “That’s not what I was taught last Sunday at church. Help one another, even if it means sacrifice.” “Gosh, I hate that word ‘sacrifice’ thought Samuel out loud.

So he slowed down and he could still hear the yelp, yelp, yelp coming from down the alley. So he turned from his street into the alley and as he got closer to Mrs. Garvin’s house (the widow lady), he saw what the yelping was all about. Her little puppy ‘Bobo’ had its paw caught in the fence and every time he tried to pull it out, he yelped.

Samuel saw what the problem was right away. Every time Bobo pulled his paw, it became stuck on a jagged piece of metal. So Samuel got hold of Bobo’s paw and gently held it still while he pulled the fence to the side. He rubbed Bobo’s paw where it was scratched, and Samuel could tell Bobo was happy; the little puppy started running around the yard and then looked at Samuel, as if to say thanks.

While this was all going on, Samuel forgot about his favorite cartoon show, and when he got home he remembered school let out early, so he wasn’t going to miss his show after all. And he helped a friend along the way, because he put Bobo ahead of himself. What a great day for Samuel!