A Little Can of Oil
There’s a story of an old man who carried a little can of oil with him everywhere he went. When he passed through a door that squeaked, he poured a little oil on the hinges. If a gate was hard to open, he oiled the latch.
As he passed through life, he lubricated all the hard places and made it easier for those who came after him. People saw him as eccentric and a bit odd but he never quit. He just kept walking steadily and refilling his can of oil when it became empty.
Hard to Open Places in Life
In life, there are plenty of creaks, squeaks, and hard to open places. There are situations that have grown rusty and discouraging. What’s needed is a little oil of cheerfulness, kindness, acceptance, or gratitude.
You never knows what a kind word or a helpful hand can do. Life wear us down, steals our joy, and robs us of hope. We need people to come along and pour the oil of kindness and helpfulness into our lives. You and I can be those people for others.
I can think of many times when I’ve been on the receiving end of oil in the form of an encouraging word or act of kindness. What a difference it made! It took away the squeak and helped to smooth out a rough patch.
Who in your life needs a little kindness to help them smooth out a rough patch they may be experiencing?
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About Cam Taylor
Coach, author, speaker, father, friend, leader, life long learner.