LEARN TO BE KIND

"Love is patient and kind." l Corinthians 13:4

This very attractive woman said, "From the day I started to school, clear up through college, everyone made fun of my legs. As you can see, they look like tree stumps." Then she stood up, and they did.

"You know how children are, she said when she sat down to continue her story. They can be cruel. Sometimes when I was little I would cry myself to sleep. As I grew older, I laughed with them to cover up. In high school I dated some but never more than a couple of times with any one boy and you can guess why. "

"When I was a freshman in college I met Mark. He never made one single reference to my legs. But I did. Then one night he took my hands in his and said,'Frances, I want you to quit knocking yourself. I love you the way you are. The Lord gave you good, sturdy legs. They give me a solid feeling and I like it.' You know what I did," she said, "I cried.

"Then one week," she continued, "he took me home, and when I met his mother I wanted to cry again. She was cripple, She wore a shoe that was built up and she walked with a limp. So I looked at him and he looked at me and I think I loved him right then like nobody ever loved a man before

"Do you know," she concluded, "that was thirteen years ago and now I can honestly laugh about my legs. Can you see why I say he's wonderful? There isn't one thing in the world I wouldn't do for Mark!"

(The above was adapted from Charlie Shedd's wonderful little book, Letters to Philip on how to treat a woman.)