Craig Clouston

Useful Hands

He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his hands.
Ephesians 4:28

He had come to the hardware store to buy a new ball glove. As he walked by the fishing equipment, he was mesmerized by the brightly colored assortment of lures. There were shysters, rapallas, spoons, and jitterbugs. But one lure caught his eye more than the others. It was a chartreuse popper! For no reason he could understand, the boy looked around to see if anyone was watching, reached around the counter, and took the lure, pocketing it.
He left the store without even looking at ball gloves. He couldn’t seem to get away fast enough! On his way home, he pulled the box from his pocket and removed the lure. He couldn’t wait to try it out! Then, as unexplainable as his first urge, he knew he must return it and apologize for stealing.
The storeowner listened to the boy’s story and proposed the boy work for him until he had paid restitution. It took the boy two weeks of hard work to pay his debt. He never forgot that lesson or the storeowner.

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The owner of the hardware had been a wise man, understanding that the deed could not go unpunished or the boy may repeat his offense. Contacting the boy’s parents and using work as a way of teaching the boy the value of putting his hands to good use, he was able to help the young boy with not only his guilt but also caused him to be able to appreciate what he could accomplish through honest labor.
Left unchecked, who knew what this young boy would do. The owner understood that little thieves are easier to rehabilitate and always worth the effort. He gave of himself for the future of the boy, understanding that, “But for the grace of God, there go I.”

Prayer

“Lord, only You know the evil that inhabits the hearts of men. Please lead me in such a way that I will not judge others, nor fall under judgment myself. Cause me to have useful hands. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”