Last Sunday afternoon, we were in the car taking Aiden back to West Plains. As we were driving along, we saw someone out mowing their yard, and it started a conversation, like this: “Aiden, it won’t be long and you’ll be big enough to mow the yard and help Mommy and Daddy out.” He proudly replied, “I sure will be big enough, if they pay me.” I said, “Why should they have to pay you? You’re part of the family. Don’t you want to do your part?” and he said, “I’ll mow the yard and do chores, if they pay me.” He was definitely stuck on the “getting paid part.” So I replied, “They feed you every day – do you pay for your meals? You eat A LOT! They feed you because they love you and they want to help you. When you get bigger, you’ll help them because you love them.” He got quiet for a moment and then, I realized that he ‘got it,” when he said, “Love is the best kind of pay.”
“Out of the mouth of babes” as the old saying goes came words of wisdom. His parents are doing an amazing job raising this young man. I’m proud of all of them because love is the best kind of pay. You may give to or do for others because “it’s expected.” You may give because of guilt. You may do something to repay what you’ve already used. Maybe you do something for a friend, so they’ll “owe you one,” and you can “call in the chips” in the future. But “love is the best kind of pay.”
God certainly knows that. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16) Why did He give? He gave because He loved us. Paul told the church in Galatia, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). Why should we look for those opportunities to serve? It’s because “love is the best kind of pay.” We are to “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). Yes, we pray for one another because we love each other, and “love is the best kind of pay.”
So today, while you’re picking up dirty clothes to wash, emptying out the dishwasher, or mowing the yard, I hope you’ll remember why these “jobs” are blessings. It means that we have someone to love, and “love is the best kind of pay.” Simply blessed, Courtney
WONDERFUL!! He sure has it right–God bless all of you as he grows in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Hope I live to see it