Let's Throw Someone A Flower!

The story is told of a little girl who wore a white frock and was carrying a large bouquet of flowers. As she passed by a boy who was playing in the dusty street, he saw how she was dressed. Having a mischievous spirit, the boy threw a handful of dirt at the little girl, striking her white dress.

The little girl stood still — her face flushed pink. Her lips trembled as if she would cry. But instead, a lovely smile broke over her face, and taking a flower from her bouquet, she tossed it to the boy, who stood waiting to see what she was going to do.

No one could ever see a more surprised boy, nor one more genuinely ashamed of what he had done to the little girl. He hung his head, and his cheeks reddened under their tanned coat of freckles. His unkind fun was quite spoiled, just because in return for a handful of dirt, someone had thrown him a flower.

Beloved, what a changed world this would be if everyone were as wise and prudent as this little girl! How quarrels would quickly go out of fashion if, for angry words, we would throw someone a flower of gentle answers (Proverbs 15:1; 1 Corinthians 4:12; cf. Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27-28; Romans 12:14).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets