In February 2005 a Colorado county court judge ordered two teenagers to pay $900 for the distress they caused a neighbor the previous summer.
What distressing thing did they do?
They baked some cookies and adorned them paper hearts.
The teenagers, Taylor and Lindsey, had stayed home this particular Saturday night — some friends were having a party but they chose not to go since there might be drinking. Instead, they made cookies for several of their rural neighbors, dropped off the batches on their porches, accompanied by red and pink hearts and a note that said “Have a great night.”
One neighbor, however, didn’t appreciate their kindness. She filed a lawsuit complaining that the unsolicited cookies triggered an anxiety attack that sent her to the hospital the next day. Judge Doug Walker ruled that 10:30 was a little late to be ringing someone’s door bell, and ordered the girls to pay the “victim’s” medical costs.
I’m afraid this might have caused Taylor and Lindsey to think twice before they decide again to do something kind. Certainly no one could blame them. But I hope it’s not the case.
Even though good deeds sometimes bring back more trouble than we deserve, we must never be discouraged from seeking out opportunities to display random acts of kindness.
One Sabbath day Jesus healed a man who later went out of his way to inform the enemies of Christ that it was Jesus who had done this miraculous work. (John 5:15) This began a chain of events that led to…
Therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. (John 5:18 NASV)
Hardly worth the trouble to heal the man, wouldn’t you say? And yet, our all-knowing Lord healed him anyway.
Kent Keith said…
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
These sheep that we’re called to take care of—sometimes we discover they have really sharp teeth. But don’t let a few bite marks prevent you from continuing to do good every chance you get.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21)
