The hole in the boat

                            

A man owned a small boat.  Whenever spring came around, he would take his children out on the boat and went fishing in the lake nearby. One year at the end of the summer, he brought the boat in since he won’t be using it until next spring.  When he did, he noticed a small hole in the back of the boat but he thought he will fix it next year since he won’t be using it for a while.  However, he did call a painter to repaint the boat. The next spring came around when the man’s two sons wanted to ride the repainted boat.  So the man launched the boat with just two of his sons in it but he forgot about the hole in the boat. After a couple of hours later, he remembered about the hole.  Frantically he ran to the lake because not only they were inexperienced with the boat but they didn’t know how to swim. However, by the time he arrived at the lake, the boys were done boating and were about to head back home.  The man checked and saw the hole was fixed.  He wondered who might have fixed it and then, he remembered. The man took a nice present and went to visit the painter.  The painter was puzzled why he brought such a nice gift and said, “You have paid me already for the paint job.  What is this for?” The man said, “I have only asked you to paint the boat but you have fixed the hole which saved my two sons from drowning.  And for that, I cannot thank you enough.” Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount that if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles (Matt. 5:41).  Doing, giving, serving, and going that “extra” mile can leave a huge impact on people.  Going above and beyond the call of duty is what Christians should be known for.  May God give us more caring and thoughtful painters in our lives.