Extra Mile Kids
Ray and I enjoyed a fun time on Saturday night with other homeschooling families. We are in the midst of heavy writing schedules. Our annual Homeschool Dramatic Society play practice begins next week. We are busy little campers, so . . . we ran by Subway® to purchase our contribution to the potluck meal.
As we stood wondering which sandwiches to purchase and how many, I noted that I didn’t see any specials. The only other customer in the restaurant turned to offer us coupons. “Can you use these?” she wondered. “I have some more in the car.” She was so concerned that we have the right coupons that she was offering to get her others from the car.
I was touched by her going-out-of-her-way kindness.
Ray and I enjoyed the evening. When it was time for us to leave, we said our thank yous and goodbyes, including saying goodbye to our grandchildren who were there. When we were almost to the car, one of our grandsons hurried out to catch us. He called out wanting to know if we had said goodbye to his little brother. “Sometimes he is sad if he doesn’t get to say, ‘Goodbye’,” he explained.
I was touched by his going-out-of-his-way kindness.
Jesus came into the world when Rome was ruling Israel. It was swarming with Roman soldiers. Sometimes soldiers would force Israelites to carry a load for one mile. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:
Whoever forces you to go one mile,
go with him two.Â
Matthew 5:41
That teaching is the origin of the saying, “Go the extra mile.”
Richard Scarry wrote many books about busy this and busy that — busy towns, busy farms, even the busy world. Scarry died in 1994. I wonder what he would think of today’s busy, busy world.
In our busy, busy world, it warms my heart to see someone who goes the extra mile. Going the extra mile communicates many things to the recipient. It says, “You are worth it. Your needs are important. I have time for you.”
What could we accomplish in this world with an army of Extra Mile Kids, growing up to go the extra mile in their families, in their work, in their church, in their communities.
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit,
but with humility of mind
regard one another as more important than yourselves;
do not merely look out for your own personal interests,
but also for the interests of others.
Have this attitude in yourselves
which was also in Christ Jesus,
who, although He existed in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant,
and being made in the likeness of men.
Philippians 2:3-7
Last week I was giving a girl and her twin brother, and one of his friends a ride home from cross country practice along with our son. Our son was going to sit in front and then realized that the boys were telling the girl to sit in the middle in the back of our rather small car. Our son hopped out, and told the girl she could sit up front, and climbed in the middle of the back (which she greatly appreciated). I mentioned it to our son later and he told me that it just didn’t seem right for her to have to sit between 2 stinky boys!