A man was asked to paint a boat. He brought with him paint and brushes and began to paint the boat a bright red, as the owner asked him. While painting, he noticed that there was a small hole in the hull, and quietly repaired it. When finished painting, he received his money and left.

The next day, the owner of the boat came to the painter and presented him with a nice cheque, much higher than the payment for painting.

The painter was surprised and said, “You’ve already paid me for painting the boat, Sir!”

“But this is not for the paint job. It’s for having repaired the hole in the boat.”

“Ah! But it was such a small service. Certainly, it’s not worth paying me such a high amount for something so insignificant.”

“My dear friend, you do not understand. Let me tell you what happened. When I asked you to paint the boat, I forgot to mention the hole. When the boat dried, my kids took the boat and went on a fishing trip.

“They did not know that there was a hole. I was not at home at that time. When I returned and noticed they had taken the boat, I was desperate because I remembered that the boat had a hole. Imagine my relief and joy when I saw them returning from fishing.

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“Then, I examined the boat and found that you had repaired the hole! You see, now, what you did? You saved the lives of my children! I do not have enough money to pay your ‘small’ good deed.”

​So, no matter who, when, or how. Just continue to help, sustain, wipe tears, listen attentively, and carefully repair all the ‘leaks’ you find. Because you never know when one is in need of us or when God holds a pleasant surprise for us to be helpful and important to someone.

​You might have repaired numerous ‘boat holes’ along the way for several people without realising how many lives you’ve saved. You see, some will ignore the hole and the kids will die in the process. Some repairers had the opportunity to fix the leaking hole but they ended enlarging the hole.

Meditation: Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. – Ecclesiastes 9:10

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