December 2, 2020 (Wednesday)
I became pastor of the Oletha Baptist Church about 50 miles east of Waco in November, 1951. While there, I conducted a funeral. It was my first. I wrote down the name, the date, location of the funeral, and details of the burial in a little black book. I kept a record in that book through the years of funerals, weddings, revival meetings, and baptisms.
In 1989 we began using computers and, though I have kept the little black book, I transferred the records of funerals and weddings to a computer. These records show that I conducted about three times as many funerals as weddings. I did not always remember to record them, and I may have done a few more of each than I recorded. But according to these records, I conducted 317 weddings and 929 funerals. When you think about how many people were involved in those ceremonies, taking into account that families were included as well as many friends and acquaintances, there’s no telling how many people were touched in some way by what was said and done at those times. The thought is very humbling, indeed.
I was 23 years old and had already conducted six funerals when a man came up to me after a funeral and expressed disappointment in the way that I had handled the service. I had been taught by professors and by many reading materials that I should make the service about the Lord and not about the person who had died. The disappointed man straightened me out that day, as he scolded me for not eulogizing the deceased person. He said, “Everyone does good things, even if it is knowing how to whistle.” He was right, of course. That conversation took place 66 years ago, but I have thought about it at each funeral since. I began to learn what an opportunity of ministry a funeral can be. I learned to talk about the person who passed away and about the Lord, too. I tried to do it in a way that respected the deceased and the family while reminding everyone about the Lord and the comfort that he gives to those who trust Him.
But I not only learned that grieving families need encouragement, but all of us need someone to lift us up when we fall, to help us do better when we fail, to help us learn from our mistakes and to be as kind to ourselves as we are kind to others. Yes, I said that right — it works both ways. As we give others the benefit of a doubt, perhaps we can do the same for ourselves as we seek God’s forgiveness for our many shortcomings.
Every verse in the Bible is the Word of God, and is part of what God wants us to know, but there are some verses that stand out as if the Bible can talk and is loudly calling to us, “Pay attention to this verse!” One such verse is Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.”
We can almost hear the Bible as if through a megaphone, “Please, whatever you do, always remember this verse (Mark 12:30-31):” “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, and with all your strength, and love everyone else, giving them the same kind of acceptance that you want for yourself.” (translated and interpreted).
TRY A LITTLE KINDNESS
Words Bobby Austin
Music Curt Sapaugh
1959
If you see your brother standing by the road
With a heavy load from the seeds he’s sowed
And if you see your sister falling by the way
Just stop and say, you’re going the wrong way
You got to try a little kindness
Yes show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you’ll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets
Don’t walk around the down and out
Lend a helping hand instead of doubt
And the kindness that you show every day
Will help someone along their way
You got to try a little kindness
Yes show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you’ll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets
You got to try a little kindness
Yes show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you’ll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets