“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love.” Romans 12:10

We are half way through this year’s Hanukkah Feast. Darkness falls by 5 p.m. and the wind is cold. How comforting it is after a demanding day for Jay, our two sons Josh and Daniel and I warm ourselves around a little wood stove in the family room. Yes, someone died because of terror today. No, here is no good news of the TV channels. The world is frightened and Europe is becoming defensive in the face of so many immigrants. Terror stalks us all one way or another. Our hearts are heavy, very heavy.  We read this little piece and it touched us all. There ARE little things that each one of us can do, when the troubles seem so overwhelming. 

“There is a story of an old man who carried a little can of oil with him everywhere he went, and if 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. And thus he passed through life lubricating all hard places and making it easier for those who came after him.

People called him eccentric, queer, and cranky; but the old man went steadily on refilling his can of oil when it became empty, and oiled the hard places he found.

There are many lives that creak and grate harshly as they live day by day. Nothing goes right with them. They need lubricating with the oil of gladness, gentleness or thoughtfulness.  Have you your own can of oil with you? Be ready with your oil of helpfulness in the early morning to the one nearest you. It may lubricate the whole day for him. The oil of good cheer to the downhearted one – Oh, how much it may mean!  The word of courage to the despairing. Speak it!

Our lives touch others but once, perhaps, on the road of life; and then, our ways diverge, never to meet again. The oil of kindness has worn the sharp hard edges off of many a sin-hardened life and left it soft and pliable and ready for the redeeming grace of the Saviour.

A word spoken pleasantly is a large spot of sunshine on a sad heart. Therefore, “Give other the sunshine tell Jesus the rest.”  Unknown

I find this piece not only appropriate during this Festival of Lights, when our lamps are lit every night with oil or candles, which ever we choose. I have both. Jesus told the parable of the wise who had their lamps filled with oil. It is just that time in our lives is it not!

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”  Matthew 25:13