The Faded Gift

There are people in life who always have a smile and a kind word for everybody. We sometimes do many favors for these people because of their popularity, yet even the simplest of tasks we can not count on them.
There are other people like the mean school teacher who always yells, disciplines and is quick to give a failing mark. Yet forty years later that same teacher is there with encouragement, a listening ear and for one student even a check.
Gifts from God are not always wrapped in a rich man’s wrapping paper. Sometimes the most beautifully wrapped package becomes the biggest disappointment when opened. On the other hand, a gift that is not so greatly wrapped makes one look past the paper and find something much better.
Luke 10:30-35
Jesus replied with a story: A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.
Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’