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Bill was a big, awkward, homely guy. He dressed oddly
with ill-fitting clothes. There were several fellows who
thought it smart to make fun of him.
One day one fellow noticed a small tear in his shirt and gave it a small
rip. Another worker in the factory added his bit, and before long there
was quite a ribbon dangling. Bill went on about his work and as he
passed too near a moving belt the shirt strip was sucked into the
machinery.
In a split second the sleeve and Bill was in trouble. Alarms were
sounded, switches pulled, and trouble was avoided. The foreman, however,
aware of what had happened, summoned the men and related this story:
"In my younger days I worked in a small factory. That's when I first met
Mike. He was big and witty, was always making jokes, and playing little
pranks. Mike was a leader. Then there was Pete who was a follower. He
always went along with Mike. And then there was a man named Jake.
"He was a little older than the rest of us -- quiet, harmless, apart. He
always ate his lunch by himself. He wore the same patched trousers for
three years straight. He never entered into the games we played at noon,
wrestling, horse shoes and such. He appeared to be indifferent, always
sitting quietly alone under a tree instead. Jake was a natural target
for practical jokes.
"He might find a live frog in his dinner pail, or a dead rodent in his
hat. But he always took it in good humor. Then one fall when things
were slack, Mike took off a few days to go hunting. Pete went along,
of course. And they promised all of us that if they got anything
they'd bring us each a piece.
"So we were all quite excited when we heard that they'd returned and
that Mike had got a really big buck. We heard more than that. Pete could
never keep anything to himself, and it leaked out that they had real
whopper to play on Jake.
"Mike had cut up the critter and had made a nice package for each of us.
And, for the laugh, for the joke of it, he had saved the ears, the tail,
the hoofs -- it would be so funny when Jake unwrapped them.
"Mike distributed his packages during the noon hour. We each got a nice
piece, opened it, and thanked him. The biggest package of all he saved
until last. It was for Jake. Pete was all but bursting; and Mike looked
very smug. Like always, Jake sat by himself; he was on the far side of
the
big table. Mike pushed the package over to where he could reach it; and
we all sat and waited.
"Jake was never one to say much. You might never know that he was around
for all the talking he did. In three years he'd never said a hundred
words. So we were all quite astounded with what happened next. He took
the package firmly in his grip and rose slowly to his feet. He smiled
broadly at Mike - and it was then we noticed that his eyes were
glistening. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down for a moment and then he
got control of himself.
"'I knew you wouldn't forget me,' he said gratefully; 'I knew you'd come
through! You're big and you're playful, but I knew all along that you
had a good heart.'
"He swallowed again, and then took in the rest of us. 'I know I haven't
seemed too chummy with you men; but I never meant to be rude. You see,
I've got nine kids at home -- and a wife that's been an invalid --
bedfast
now for four years. She ain't ever going to get any better. And
sometimes when she's real bad off, I have to sit up all night to take
care of her. And most of my wages have had to go for doctors and
medicine. The kids do all they can to help out, but at times it's been
hard to keep food in their mouths. Maybe you think it's funny that I go
off by myself to eat my dinner. Well, I guess I've been a little
ashamed,
because I don't always have anything between my sandwich. Or like
today -- maybe there's only a raw turnip in my pail. But I want you to
know that this meat really means a lot to me.
Maybe more than to anybody here because tonight my kids . . .' he
wiped
the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand, ' . . . tonight my
kids will have a really . . .'
"He tugged at the string. We'd been watching Jake so intently we hadn't
paid much notice to Mike and Pete. But we all noticed them now, because
they both dove at once to try to grab the package. But they were too
late. Jake had broken the wrapper and was already surveying his
present.
He examined each hoof, each ear, and then he held up the tail. It
wiggled limply. It should have been so funny, but nobody
laughed -- nobody at all.
"But the hardest part was when Jake looked up and said, 'Thank you,'
while trying to smile. Silently one by one each man moved forward
carrying his package and quietly placed it in front of Jake for they
had suddenly realized how little their own gift had really meant to
them . . . until now . . . This was where the foreman left the story
and the men. He didn't need to say anymore; but it was gratifying
to notice that as each man ate his lunch that day, they shared part
with Bill and one fellow even took off his shirt and gave it to him."
"When God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to
enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work -- this is a gift
of God." Ecclesiastics 5:19 (NIV)
"Lord, thank You for all You have given me to enjoy.
Make me aware of people in need with whom I can
share from the abundance I have received.
Amen"
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