PARABLE OF THE HAND
Stories
PARSON'S PARABLES
"What did you do?" inquired the boss of his secretary, who was grimacing with pain.
"Oh, I slammed the drawer on my finger and it hurts all the way up my arm."
"I am sorry," said the employer. "Let me see it."
"It will be all right in a little while," said the secretary. "And I've got so much typing to do, it will have to be all right."
The young lady found that the injured finger not only sent pain up her arm and gave her a headache, but after the pain had subsided, her typing was filled with errors and she gave up the task for the day. On leaving early she said to her boss, "It's funny how one little finger can upset your whole system."
"That's all right. We understand," said the boss.
It is true that all parts of a body are interrelated and that illness in one member of the body has its influence on all the rest. It is also true that happiness and well being in one member of the body has its blessing for all the rest. Like the patient who held up his foot and said, "Look it is all healed and I feel wonderful."
The Scriptures tell us that we are to rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep, for we are affected one to another. A good family, a fine community, a great nation is dependent upon the people being concerned for the welfare of all.
Though we have different duties to perform, we all affect the welfare of others and are affected as well by their performance. The finger affects the hand, the hand the arm and all together have need of each other in daily living.
Read I Corinthians 12:13 "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."
PARABLE OF THE LIMOUSINE AND MARRIED LIFE
Our modern automobile is built to travel over many miles and to give a smooth ride along beautiful highways, as long as all four wheels are in line and all four tires in good condition.
The requirements of a happy home and a happy marriage are like those of a limousine. All four wheels must be in place, and safely able to hold up their end.
The four wheels of marriage are:
1. Physical love and affection.
2. Satisfactory work and income.
3. Friendship and social fellowship.
4. Religious faith and worship of God.
The steering wheel is in the hands of both partners and the course they plan together will determine whether they shall ever arrive at their goal.
To neglect or remove any of these wheels is to arrange for disaster, to make it impossible for the car to travel on the highway of life in safety.
To have any of the tires worn thin or to let the wheels remain out of line is to endanger the whole journey, to be less secure, or to make the limousine shimmy and shake endangering others.
No life can be full or enduring without all these plans for the home fully cared for by those responsible.
Better check the wheels on your own limousine of life today.
PARABLE OF FOUR CHAINED MEN
Four men were chained to trees in the black woods. They were hungry, heartsick, discouraged prisoners.
Then came a traveler. He knew the way to free them. He knew the combination to the locks, which held the chains, and could set the prisoners free.
He set the first man free, and then he went to the second man and freed him. In turn he cared for the third man, but failed to be able to loose the fourth.
The fourth was left in chains with the combination to his lock in doubt.
Many rejoiced at the heroic rescue, but the hero remained unsatisfied that the fourth continued a prisoner.
Why were these men prisoners? Who had chained them? What had brought rescue?
The first man's chains were terror of God, and he sought to deny any religion or any relationship to God. The sins of fear and doubt kept him chained in the forest of hate and ignorance.
The second man's chains were made of race prejudice, and he thought himself superior to those of another color. He was imprisioned in the forest of hate and ignorance.
The third man was chained with a self-righteous attitude, thinking he could do no wrong and needed no mercy to be given to others. He was lost through loneliness and chained in the. forest of hate and ignorance.
The rescuer used God's Word to set the prisoners free. (John III:16) "For God so loved the world ...--" (Acts XVII:24-26) "God has made of one blood all nations of men ...--". (I Corinthians 8:8) "Meat does not commend us to God -- whether we eat it or eat it not."
The fourth kept his chains and home in darkness for he had no faith and would not believe his own brother.
Have you any chains? Are you in a forest?
PARABLE OF THE COOK, THE SHOEMAKER AND FRIENDSHIP
"How do you like being a shoemaker!" said the cook.
"I like it a lot," said the shoemaker, "Because I make so many friends and people who bring their shoes really need to have them fixed."
"How do you like being a cook!"
"I like cooking because so many people enjoy my food and I try to fix it the way they like it and you make a lot of friends that way," she answered.
"I guess it is the friendships we make in serving people that makes our jobs important and happy for us," said the shoemaker.
"Yes," said the cook, "friendship is important but how can you keep friends!"
"I don't know," said the shoemaker, "but I'm just going to keep on doing the best job I know how and being the best friend I can be and I won't worry about the rest."
It is true many of the finest friendships in life are made through a commoness of interest in work and as long as one keeps doing the best he knows how new opportunities for friendship continue to develop and old friendships mellow with the years. Just keep on being a friend, doing all you can do and you will find friendship springing up all around you.
Friendship, afterall, is what makes for happy living. Don't be a complainer, avoid jealousy and anything that resembles it and share what you have with gladness.
The world needs more friends who will keep on being friends through all the joy and sorrow of life. If you would have friends give your friendship without asking anything in return.
Give and give and give and you will not be able to withstand.the avalanche of friendship which comes your way.
St. Paul said, "Love suffers long, and is kind; love envies not; love wants not itself, it is not puffed up; does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, love never fails; but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away."
I Corinthians 13:4-8
PARABLE OF THE DIARY
"What do you write in your diary?" said Marjorie.
"Oh, I put down what the weather was like, what dress I wore and any special news that I learned that day. I never say how I feel about anyone because you can't tell who will read your diary later."
"I do just the opposite," said Mary. "I never mind the weather and I always put down the nicest feelings I have about everyone special and sometimes even the paperboy, the mailman or someone who comes to the door. When I re-read the days of last year in comparison to this year, I find how many different people help make me happy and I feel good again all over."
Many people do keep a diary of their lives, and it should be a good exercise of evaluating what your life is like. Some do this in prayer at night. Many others make no record of their activity and have little on-going thought of the history they are writing. Some pay more attention to the weather than they do to the people they meet.
There is a material and a spiritual climate in which we live and both play an important role in our health and happiness. You learn to appreciate the contributions that others make to our lives are a part of developing the wholesome gift of being a friend to all. The greatest gifts in life are not material but spiritual. The giving of one's self in service, in friendship and in positive influence for good is the way of courageous Christian living.
The gifts that Jesus gave were spiritual. He handed no wrapped packages, but He gave of Himself.
"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison and ye came unto me."
St. Matthew 25:34, 35, 36
THE REFRIGERATOR OF LIFE
There are many parallels between our lives and the refrigerator which cares for our food.
Often times there are many little leftovers that clutter up the shelves; but when something important comes along we make room.
One, who keeps an orderly refrigerator and gets rid of the odds and ends quickly, shows enough organization that reflects something of their character.
When worship of God and the feeding of the soul is of first importance to true Christians, they make room for God and His influence in every day life and are faithful in the performance of worship.
Spoiled wasted food can clutter up the refrigerator and make it an area of confusion.
Unfortunately this also describes many lives which neglect the ordering of God's Word.
Especially plan to attend church faithfully during the Lenten season and sing Whittier's hymn.
"Take from our lives the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess,
The beauty of Thy peace."
PARABLE OF THE TWO KEYS
They were made for the same door -- the two keys. One old and wotn, the other was shiny and new. When the father gave his child the key he said, "Here is your first key to our home and now you are old enough to come and go."
"This is wonderful," said the young lady. "I can stay out as long as I please." As usual when she arrived home the door was locked. This time it was later than usual and the parents had gone to bed. She took out her shiny new key. It fitted the lock alright, but it wouldn't open the door. She tried and tried. Finally she rang the doorbell, embarrassed at the late hour, but still in need of her parent's help. Little was said as the sleepy father opened the door for his daughter.
She said, "I can't understand why the key wouldn't work." "We'll discuss that tomorrow." said the father.
On examination the next day the father said, "There are some rough edges that need to be worn smooth on that shiny new key. If you had tried it by day-time we would have discovered the trouble without embarrassing anyone. The old well-worn key is the best after all and you will find that some of the old well-worn ways are also better for living a good life."
PARABLE OF THE GARDEN HOSE
"I'm selling garden hose," said the little boy. "It's ten cents a foot."
"Wonderful," said the neighbor, "I'll take thirty feet."
"Alright," said the little boy, who began to measure the amount of hose with his own feet.
"Just a minute, son," said the neighbor. "You need a ruler or a tape measure."
"No," said the boy, "I use my own feet to measure with. I make more money that way."
"Then I don't want any hose," said the neighbor. "You have to use a standard measurement, like a yard stick, or you cheat your customers."
There are many men in business who find ways to give 9 1/2 pounds of potatoes in a 10 pound bag or get an extra bag of strawberries out of a crate by repacking them. The steel industry and others also have their ways. The automotive business with its extra charge for accessories all scheme to make things look different than the original measurement.
Many church goers also report their giving in relationship to income tax by a different standard than that which appears in the reports of church treasurers. We cheat ourselves out of the Kingdom of Heaven by dishonest measurements.
It was good that the neighbor pointed out the boy's mistaken way of measuring; but he also was buying the hose at a bargain price without inquiring where the hose came from.
Happy living depends upon a sound standard and generous giving in substance, in service, in friendship and in loving.
"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."
St. Matthew 7:1, 2
PARABLE OF MY NAME
"Mother, where did I get my name?" said Ralph.
"Why daddy and I gave it to you. We just liked the name. Why do you ask?"
"Well, Mary said she was named after the mother of Jesus. And John said he was named after one of the desciples and David said he was named after a great Bible hero. Who was I named after?"
"Well, no one in particular, but people will learn to think well of you and of your name, as you do good deeds and are kind and friendly to them."
"Aw gee! I wish I were named after someone." said Ralph.
"Well," said the mother, "there was a great poet whose name was Ralph -- Ralph Waldo Emerson."
"Good, that's what I'll tell them. I was named after a great poet."
It is true that bearing a name of someone with a great reputation has an encouraging influence on the namesake. It is true that Bible names are related by the bearers of such names to their historic meanings. It is natural and it is good that we should want to make our reputations measure up to high ideals and noble achievements.
We ought to speak our name clearly. Thus, others may understand and call us by name. All the associations that we can make that are good with our name, help us and help others to positive thinking and worthy goals. We should be an influence for good both in name and deed.
Parents ought to wisely choose their children's names with consideration for what it will mean among their playmates and friends and associates in the future.
"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold."
Read Proverbs 22:1
"Oh, I slammed the drawer on my finger and it hurts all the way up my arm."
"I am sorry," said the employer. "Let me see it."
"It will be all right in a little while," said the secretary. "And I've got so much typing to do, it will have to be all right."
The young lady found that the injured finger not only sent pain up her arm and gave her a headache, but after the pain had subsided, her typing was filled with errors and she gave up the task for the day. On leaving early she said to her boss, "It's funny how one little finger can upset your whole system."
"That's all right. We understand," said the boss.
It is true that all parts of a body are interrelated and that illness in one member of the body has its influence on all the rest. It is also true that happiness and well being in one member of the body has its blessing for all the rest. Like the patient who held up his foot and said, "Look it is all healed and I feel wonderful."
The Scriptures tell us that we are to rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep, for we are affected one to another. A good family, a fine community, a great nation is dependent upon the people being concerned for the welfare of all.
Though we have different duties to perform, we all affect the welfare of others and are affected as well by their performance. The finger affects the hand, the hand the arm and all together have need of each other in daily living.
Read I Corinthians 12:13 "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."
PARABLE OF THE LIMOUSINE AND MARRIED LIFE
Our modern automobile is built to travel over many miles and to give a smooth ride along beautiful highways, as long as all four wheels are in line and all four tires in good condition.
The requirements of a happy home and a happy marriage are like those of a limousine. All four wheels must be in place, and safely able to hold up their end.
The four wheels of marriage are:
1. Physical love and affection.
2. Satisfactory work and income.
3. Friendship and social fellowship.
4. Religious faith and worship of God.
The steering wheel is in the hands of both partners and the course they plan together will determine whether they shall ever arrive at their goal.
To neglect or remove any of these wheels is to arrange for disaster, to make it impossible for the car to travel on the highway of life in safety.
To have any of the tires worn thin or to let the wheels remain out of line is to endanger the whole journey, to be less secure, or to make the limousine shimmy and shake endangering others.
No life can be full or enduring without all these plans for the home fully cared for by those responsible.
Better check the wheels on your own limousine of life today.
PARABLE OF FOUR CHAINED MEN
Four men were chained to trees in the black woods. They were hungry, heartsick, discouraged prisoners.
Then came a traveler. He knew the way to free them. He knew the combination to the locks, which held the chains, and could set the prisoners free.
He set the first man free, and then he went to the second man and freed him. In turn he cared for the third man, but failed to be able to loose the fourth.
The fourth was left in chains with the combination to his lock in doubt.
Many rejoiced at the heroic rescue, but the hero remained unsatisfied that the fourth continued a prisoner.
Why were these men prisoners? Who had chained them? What had brought rescue?
The first man's chains were terror of God, and he sought to deny any religion or any relationship to God. The sins of fear and doubt kept him chained in the forest of hate and ignorance.
The second man's chains were made of race prejudice, and he thought himself superior to those of another color. He was imprisioned in the forest of hate and ignorance.
The third man was chained with a self-righteous attitude, thinking he could do no wrong and needed no mercy to be given to others. He was lost through loneliness and chained in the. forest of hate and ignorance.
The rescuer used God's Word to set the prisoners free. (John III:16) "For God so loved the world ...--" (Acts XVII:24-26) "God has made of one blood all nations of men ...--". (I Corinthians 8:8) "Meat does not commend us to God -- whether we eat it or eat it not."
The fourth kept his chains and home in darkness for he had no faith and would not believe his own brother.
Have you any chains? Are you in a forest?
PARABLE OF THE COOK, THE SHOEMAKER AND FRIENDSHIP
"How do you like being a shoemaker!" said the cook.
"I like it a lot," said the shoemaker, "Because I make so many friends and people who bring their shoes really need to have them fixed."
"How do you like being a cook!"
"I like cooking because so many people enjoy my food and I try to fix it the way they like it and you make a lot of friends that way," she answered.
"I guess it is the friendships we make in serving people that makes our jobs important and happy for us," said the shoemaker.
"Yes," said the cook, "friendship is important but how can you keep friends!"
"I don't know," said the shoemaker, "but I'm just going to keep on doing the best job I know how and being the best friend I can be and I won't worry about the rest."
It is true many of the finest friendships in life are made through a commoness of interest in work and as long as one keeps doing the best he knows how new opportunities for friendship continue to develop and old friendships mellow with the years. Just keep on being a friend, doing all you can do and you will find friendship springing up all around you.
Friendship, afterall, is what makes for happy living. Don't be a complainer, avoid jealousy and anything that resembles it and share what you have with gladness.
The world needs more friends who will keep on being friends through all the joy and sorrow of life. If you would have friends give your friendship without asking anything in return.
Give and give and give and you will not be able to withstand.the avalanche of friendship which comes your way.
St. Paul said, "Love suffers long, and is kind; love envies not; love wants not itself, it is not puffed up; does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, love never fails; but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away."
I Corinthians 13:4-8
PARABLE OF THE DIARY
"What do you write in your diary?" said Marjorie.
"Oh, I put down what the weather was like, what dress I wore and any special news that I learned that day. I never say how I feel about anyone because you can't tell who will read your diary later."
"I do just the opposite," said Mary. "I never mind the weather and I always put down the nicest feelings I have about everyone special and sometimes even the paperboy, the mailman or someone who comes to the door. When I re-read the days of last year in comparison to this year, I find how many different people help make me happy and I feel good again all over."
Many people do keep a diary of their lives, and it should be a good exercise of evaluating what your life is like. Some do this in prayer at night. Many others make no record of their activity and have little on-going thought of the history they are writing. Some pay more attention to the weather than they do to the people they meet.
There is a material and a spiritual climate in which we live and both play an important role in our health and happiness. You learn to appreciate the contributions that others make to our lives are a part of developing the wholesome gift of being a friend to all. The greatest gifts in life are not material but spiritual. The giving of one's self in service, in friendship and in positive influence for good is the way of courageous Christian living.
The gifts that Jesus gave were spiritual. He handed no wrapped packages, but He gave of Himself.
"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison and ye came unto me."
St. Matthew 25:34, 35, 36
THE REFRIGERATOR OF LIFE
There are many parallels between our lives and the refrigerator which cares for our food.
Often times there are many little leftovers that clutter up the shelves; but when something important comes along we make room.
One, who keeps an orderly refrigerator and gets rid of the odds and ends quickly, shows enough organization that reflects something of their character.
When worship of God and the feeding of the soul is of first importance to true Christians, they make room for God and His influence in every day life and are faithful in the performance of worship.
Spoiled wasted food can clutter up the refrigerator and make it an area of confusion.
Unfortunately this also describes many lives which neglect the ordering of God's Word.
Especially plan to attend church faithfully during the Lenten season and sing Whittier's hymn.
"Take from our lives the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess,
The beauty of Thy peace."
PARABLE OF THE TWO KEYS
They were made for the same door -- the two keys. One old and wotn, the other was shiny and new. When the father gave his child the key he said, "Here is your first key to our home and now you are old enough to come and go."
"This is wonderful," said the young lady. "I can stay out as long as I please." As usual when she arrived home the door was locked. This time it was later than usual and the parents had gone to bed. She took out her shiny new key. It fitted the lock alright, but it wouldn't open the door. She tried and tried. Finally she rang the doorbell, embarrassed at the late hour, but still in need of her parent's help. Little was said as the sleepy father opened the door for his daughter.
She said, "I can't understand why the key wouldn't work." "We'll discuss that tomorrow." said the father.
On examination the next day the father said, "There are some rough edges that need to be worn smooth on that shiny new key. If you had tried it by day-time we would have discovered the trouble without embarrassing anyone. The old well-worn key is the best after all and you will find that some of the old well-worn ways are also better for living a good life."
PARABLE OF THE GARDEN HOSE
"I'm selling garden hose," said the little boy. "It's ten cents a foot."
"Wonderful," said the neighbor, "I'll take thirty feet."
"Alright," said the little boy, who began to measure the amount of hose with his own feet.
"Just a minute, son," said the neighbor. "You need a ruler or a tape measure."
"No," said the boy, "I use my own feet to measure with. I make more money that way."
"Then I don't want any hose," said the neighbor. "You have to use a standard measurement, like a yard stick, or you cheat your customers."
There are many men in business who find ways to give 9 1/2 pounds of potatoes in a 10 pound bag or get an extra bag of strawberries out of a crate by repacking them. The steel industry and others also have their ways. The automotive business with its extra charge for accessories all scheme to make things look different than the original measurement.
Many church goers also report their giving in relationship to income tax by a different standard than that which appears in the reports of church treasurers. We cheat ourselves out of the Kingdom of Heaven by dishonest measurements.
It was good that the neighbor pointed out the boy's mistaken way of measuring; but he also was buying the hose at a bargain price without inquiring where the hose came from.
Happy living depends upon a sound standard and generous giving in substance, in service, in friendship and in loving.
"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."
St. Matthew 7:1, 2
PARABLE OF MY NAME
"Mother, where did I get my name?" said Ralph.
"Why daddy and I gave it to you. We just liked the name. Why do you ask?"
"Well, Mary said she was named after the mother of Jesus. And John said he was named after one of the desciples and David said he was named after a great Bible hero. Who was I named after?"
"Well, no one in particular, but people will learn to think well of you and of your name, as you do good deeds and are kind and friendly to them."
"Aw gee! I wish I were named after someone." said Ralph.
"Well," said the mother, "there was a great poet whose name was Ralph -- Ralph Waldo Emerson."
"Good, that's what I'll tell them. I was named after a great poet."
It is true that bearing a name of someone with a great reputation has an encouraging influence on the namesake. It is true that Bible names are related by the bearers of such names to their historic meanings. It is natural and it is good that we should want to make our reputations measure up to high ideals and noble achievements.
We ought to speak our name clearly. Thus, others may understand and call us by name. All the associations that we can make that are good with our name, help us and help others to positive thinking and worthy goals. We should be an influence for good both in name and deed.
Parents ought to wisely choose their children's names with consideration for what it will mean among their playmates and friends and associates in the future.
"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold."
Read Proverbs 22:1
