"A BEAUTIFUL ANSWER"

One day, a beautiful little girl in a white dress, carrying a bunch of flowers, passed a small boy who was playing in the dusty street. Somehow, the sight of that dainty figure stirred the mischief in the boy's heart. He threw a handful of dust which struck the girl's dress and fell in a shower upon the shoes she was wearing.

The little girl stood still. Her face began to flush pink; her lips trembled as if to cry. But instead, a smile broke out and taking a flower from the bouquet, she handed it to the boy. A more surprised boy none had never seen. He was now ashamed. He hung his head and his cheeks reddened under his coat of freckles. His unkind fun was spoiled. When he threw a handful of dirt, she returned it with a flower!

The Bible says: "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger...." - Proverbs 15:1.

What a change the world would experience if we all acted more like this little girl. Instead of repaying evil for evil, we would at last understand the words of Christ..."Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them...." -Matthew 7:12.

Take special note of Ephesians 4:29, 31, 32: "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying...Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice; And be ye kind one to another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

When we can remember how unlovely we once were with sin upon us, it ought to cause us to be more kind to others, inasmuch as God was kind and forgiving toward us! We can learn to get along with each other when we realize that God accepted us!

When we decide to return evil for evil, just remember that such never solved anything, except to hurt ones own self more and to sever a relationship that we might never rebuild. Remember the words of Paul, when he said: "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord'....Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good." -Romans 12:19,21.

Isn't that great advice?

- Dan Carter

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