The Blessing of Others
It can be easy to forget about all the blessings in
our lives, especially in times of trouble.
We tend to fixate on the problems of here and now, worry about the future,
and let the blessings slip away into the past.
It’s kind of like talking about the weather. We comment on today, nice or not, and we have
an eye on the forecast, but the only weather we look back on are the big storms,
and excessive heat or cold. Now, any
now, is an especially good time to reflect on the blessings that others have
been to us along our way.
For me, one person that comes quickly to mind is Mr.
Smits. He was my Webelo den leader in
boy scouts more than 50 years ago, but the positive impact he had on me is
fresh in my mind and heart. I am a quiet
person who is always cautious around people I do not know well, but I can’t
remember ever being uncomfortable around Mr. Smits. He was a great scout leader. We did some traditional scout activities like
winter and summer camping and learning how to tie knots. But I also remember some non-traditional
things like the evening he brought out his antique harmonica and played it for
us while we sang along. I remember his
warm smile and patience. But if I have
to recall one particular thing he did for me, it is definitely the day he took
us ice fishing.
My Dad took me fishing in the summer, but I never even
heard of people fishing in the winter.
Needless to say, I didn’t have any ice fishing gear, but in my family
you made do with what you had, so when Mr. Smits pulled in the driveway I went
out with my summer fishing pole in hand.
I took some razing from the other kids who obviously understood that ice
fishing gear was different but Mr. Smits said that my pole would work just
fine.
Once we arrived at Clark Lake, Mr. Smits showed us how
to chisel a hole (a lot more work than the power auger I use now) and helped us
all get set up. Most of the other boys
got bored quickly and started throwing around a football – some went ice
skating. Not me. I have always been a determined fisherman. I stayed and watched my bobber. It didn’t budge. Neither did I.
Mr. Smits showed me how to keep the ice from freezing
my hole back in. He didn’t need to scoop
ice out of his hole because it seemed that about every minute or so he was
puling a nice big perch out of it. Over
the course of the day he accumulated a pile of perch while I watched my
unmoving bobber.
About midafternoon the other boys had had enough and
began storing their stuff away and packing for the drive home. Mr. Smits announced to everyone who was ready
to leave that he was impressed with my determination and we weren’t going home
until I caught a fish. He then asked if
I wanted to use his pole, and if I wanted to fish in his hole? Boy did I!
It didn’t take long until I saw the bobber nudge just a bit and I
pulled. A perch, probably the smallest
one of the day, flopped onto the ice.
Mr. Smits laughed and patted me on the back with his big mittened
hand.
It was dark when we pulled into my driveway. Mr. Smits found my fishing pole and other
gear and handed it to me. Then he
rummaged around in his bucket of perch and pulled out probably the biggest one
that he had caught and handed it to me.
“That looks about the size of the one you caught!” he said and handed it to me with a big smile
on his face.
I remember going into the back door and showing my dad
the fish “I brought home”. I never
claimed it as the one I caught, but I didn’t not claim it either. Until the writing of this post only Mr. Smits
and I knew the truth.
Mr. Smits saw something in me that day. I knew in my heart that he saw something in
me that day. When someone else sees
something in you, it makes you feel better about yourself, even in the face of
knowing your own shortfalls.
Now, any now, is a good time to see something in someone
else. It is a good time for a smile and
a pat someone on the back, even if that pat has to be virtual. Pray a blessing on those who have blessed you. You never know the positive impact it may
have.
His Peace <><
Deacon Dan
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