Two sisters were babysitters. A young
couple hired one of them. When they got home, the home was a mess, the kids
looked tired and the babysitter was half asleep on the couch. The next day,
however, the kids said their babysitter was a lot of fun. She helped them do
their chores and homework and said their prayers with them. But this did not
change their decision – never again.
The next time they hired the other
sister. When they got home, the home was tidy and the kids were asleep. The
sitter said – they were like angels – so they gave her an extra tip. The next
day, the kids complained. She yelled at them, called her boyfriend instead of
helping them and forced them to go to bed early.
So, you’re the parent – which one
will you hire the next time?
Jesus speaks of a man who had two
sons. Told one – go out to the vineyard
today. No – but thought about it and then he went. Then told the other one –
you go too – and he said yes – but never went.
Some thoughts:
1)
Important to do what we say we are
going to do. A young widow was left
with 2 children. During the wake for her husband, many came up to her and told
her they would be there for her. As the year went on – some were but some were
not – not even call or visit. CS Lewis
fought in WW1. His buddy told him – if anything happened to him, please look
after his wife and daughter. Something
did – and Lewis kept his word. Sometimes the woman was ungrateful, rude and
arrogant. But he made a promise, and he kept it. Just like so many here!
2)
A key to a successful life is to be a
promise keeper. Before he went into politics, Abraham Lincoln and a partner
owned a store. Eventually the store went under and the partner died. He had a
pile of debt. I will repay everyone. It took him 15 years, but he repaid every
last cent. Not surprising he became a great President.
3)
We want to be known as someone who
does the right thing. Oskar Shindler was baptized a Catholic, but when Hitler
came to power, he became a Nazi. He drank too much. He gambled too much. He was
not faithful in marriage. And he tried to make money by using Jewish slave
labor. But then, he began to see – human beings. He tried to put to work
as many as possible to keep them out of the gas chambers. He saved thousands. Today there is one Nazi
buried on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.
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Do what we say we are going to do.
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Be a promise keeper.
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Be known as someone who always does
the right thing.
The son said no to God, but finally
he said yes! And so can we!
