Religion: A Pastor Ponders

More than others

by Pastor William Jenkins

March 17, 2006

“Old Tom” was hired to sweep the streets in a small town in the hills of Kentucky. Once a week this street sweeper came down every street with his broom. Tom was a friendly old fellow but didn’t have much to say. Miss Gidding on the corner got into the habit of taking him a glass of lemonade and a slice of cake. He thanked her shyly and that was all.

Then one evening there came a knock at the back door of Miss Giddings home. Tom was there with a sack of peaches in one hand and a handful of “roasting ears” in the other. He seemed embarrassed as he said, “I brought you these, Ma’am, for your kindness.” “Oh, you shouldn’t have,” exclaimed Miss Gidding. “It was nothing.” Then Tom the street sweeper said, “Well, maybe it wasn’t much, Ma’am; but it was more than anyone else.”

This statement by Tom the street sweeper ought to inspire our hearts. In our day to day activities we tend to think so little of the small deeds done out of simple kindness. Could we bring before our eyes all the results of the acts which in themselves seem but slight and insignificant it would be found that they are the very building blocks of God’s great society.

The Sermon on the Mount describes a second-mile lifestyle, going a little deeper, stretching. In it Jesus asked the question, “What do you more than others?”

Miss Gidding didn’t do much, but it was more than anyone else. Is there a “more than” something for you to do today?

League City United Methodist Church is located at 1411 Main Street (FM 518), one block east of Interstate 45. For information, call the church offices at 281-332-1557 or visit the website at

HYPERLINK - http://www.lcumc.org