“I need to open the window, Lolly. Mr. Leo and Mr. Noel are cutting grass. What kind of snack can we take them?” The rush of Thomas’s words matched his sprinting pace as he rounded the corner to the kitchen. He’d heard the mowers cranking and lost no time in getting into place for the best view. My daughter tells me her boys watch their landscapers with great interest, roaming from window to window as they circle the house on their weekly maintenance rounds. Thomas pretends to be Mr. Brad or Mr. Teddy with his own toy equipment and now that he knows our team of guys by name, they are often imitated and similarly treated with fresh baked goodies and bottled water.
Last month when it was time to have our mulch beds replenished, Thomas watched intently from the front and back porches, interestedly asking questions until Leo offered to let him come help out. He has his own wheelbarrow, shovel, rake and work gloves at home. His mom buys mulch by the bag and she and Thomas keep up the area around their deck and the sides of their house like pros, weeding and trimming back the voluminous lemon thyme planted to deter mosquitoes that nibble her and Thomas.
Thomas is learning, whether or not he realizes it, that hard work is important and valuable. In fact it is honorable because it is a gift from God.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.
Remember that the Lord will give you as a reward what he has kept for his people.
For Christ is the real Master you serve.”
Colossians 3:23-24 GNT
https://bible.com/bible/68/col.3.23-24.GNT
Thomas finds friends wherever he goes. His Aldi Girl is in her seventies and he adopted her long before she noticed him and began treating him like family. He’s befriended the Rural King lady who cares for the chicks and bunnies. He shows genuine interest in others. He truly never meets a stranger and converses easily with most anyone of any age. I want to be just like him when I grow up.
“Love one another deeply.
Honor others more than yourselves.
Stay excited about your faith as you serve the Lord.
Have the same concern for everyone.
Don’t be proud.
Be willing to be a friend of people who aren’t considered important.
Don’t think that you are better than others.”
Romans 12:10-11, 16 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/rom.12.16.NIRV
“Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it.
Never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now.”
Proverbs 3:27-28 GNT
https://bible.com/bible/68/pro.3.27-28.GNT
“Do for others just what you want them to do for you.”
Luke 6:31 GNT
https://bible.com/bible/68/luk.6.31.GNT
At only four, Thomas knows how to make others feel special, important, valued. Jesus called tax collectors and fishermen to follow Him. He told stories that turned the hierarchy of the day on its head. Samaritans, not priests, helped a man attacked by robbers. When Saul began arresting Christians after His ascension, Jesus spoke, identifying Himself with those being mistreated or killed.
“He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!”
Acts of the Apostles 9:4-5 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/act.9.4-5.NLT
“When the Son of Man appears in his majestic glory, with all his angels by his side, he will take his seat on his throne of splendor, and all the nations will be gathered together before him.
And like a shepherd who separates the sheep from the goats, he will separate all the people.
The ‘sheep’ he will put on his right side and the ‘goats’ on his left.
Then the King will turn to those on his right and say, ‘You have a special place in my Father’s heart.
Come and experience the full inheritance of the kingdom realm that has been destined for you from before the foundation of the world!
For when you saw me hungry, you fed me.
When you found me thirsty, you gave me drink.
When I had no place to stay, you invited me in, and when I was poorly clothed, you covered me.
When I was sick, you tenderly cared for me, and when I was in prison you visited me.’
Then the godly will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty and give you food and something to drink?
When did we see you with no place to stay and invite you in?
When did we see you poorly clothed and cover you?
When did we see you sick and tenderly care for you, or in prison and visit you?’
And the King will answer them, ‘Don’t you know?
When you cared for one of the least of these, my little ones, my true brothers and sisters, you demonstrated love for me.’
Then to those on his left the King will say, ‘Leave me! For you are under the curse of eternal fire that has been destined for the devil and all his demons.
For when you saw me hungry, you gave me no food, and when you saw me thirsty, you gave me no drink.
I had no place to stay, and you refused to take me in as your guest.
When you saw me poorly clothed, you closed your hearts and did not clothe me.
When you saw that I was sick, you didn’t lift a finger to help me, and when I was imprisoned, you never came to visit me.’
And then those on his left will say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty and not give you food and something to drink?
When did we see you homeless, or poorly clothed?
When did we see you sick and not help you, or in prison and not visit you?’
Then he will answer them, ‘Don’t you know?
When you refused to help one of the least important among these my little ones, my true brothers and sisters, you refused to help and honor me.’
And they will depart from his presence into eternal punishment.
But the godly and beloved ‘sheep’ will enter into eternal bliss.””
Matthew 25:31-46 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/mat.25.31-46.TPT
“God is not unfair.
He will not forget the work you did or the love you showed for him in the help you gave and are still giving to other Christians.
Our great desire is that each of you keep up your eagerness to the end, so that the things you hope for will come true.
We do not want you to become lazy, but to be like those who believe and are patient, and so receive what God has promised.”
Hebrews 6:10-12 GNT
https://bible.com/bible/68/heb.6.12.GNT
“So let us not become tired of doing good; for if we do not give up, the time will come when we will reap the harvest.
So then, as often as we have the chance, we should do good to everyone, and especially to those who belong to our family in the faith.”
Galatians 6:9-10 GNT
https://bible.com/bible/68/gal.6.10.GNT
“Each one, as a good manager of God’s different gifts, must use for the good of others the special gift he has received from God.”
1 Peter 4:10 GNT
https://bible.com/bible/68/1pe.4.10.GNT
“And look out for one another’s interests, not just for your own, because God is always at work in you to make you willing and able to obey his own purpose.
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may be innocent and pure as God’s perfect children, who live in a world of corrupt and sinful people.
You must shine among them like stars lighting up the sky,”
Philippians 2:4, 13-15 GNT
https://bible.com/bible/68/php.2.15.GNT
“So then, my dear friends, stand firm and steady.
Keep busy always in your work for the Lord, since you know that nothing you do in the Lord’s service is ever useless.”
1 Corinthians 15:58 GNT
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