Good! Better! Best!

GOOD, BETTER AND BEST

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Watch YouTube: Wade Hughes)

WHAT IS THE BEST PRESENT YOU EVER RECEIVED? WHAT A WONDERFUL SURPRISE? THEN GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT. THEN THE BEST!

We lived in southern Ohio. My brother was in the seventh grade. I was in the sixth grade. Christmas morning mom and dad asked my older and I to go down in the basement where the furnace was. I don’t know how dad hid the gifts from us. There were two WESTERN FLYER BICYCLES in the corner. I believe that was the prettiest, bright red with pen stripes bike I had ever seen. The bikes even had headlights. (Of course we could never afford the batteries.) We rode those bikes many years for many miles.

We moved to east Tennessee. I was in the seventh grade. I hinted and hinted all I want for Christmas is a speedometer for my bike. I told Santa, mom, dad and everyone: ALL I WANT IS A SPEEDOMETER FOR MY BIKE. I didn’t want anything but a speedometer. We never had much so all I requested was “THE SPEEDOMETER.” There was 7 of us. Christmas day rolled around. There were many gifts. Church people gave, family members gave and my parents gave. We opened the gifts. There were new clothes, I received a PHILCO TRANSISTOR RADIO. There was no speedometer. I was so disappointed. I guess I sat and pouted. All I wanted was a speedometer! All the presents were opened. All the family was filled with joy. HERE I AM WITH NO SPEEDOMETER. The wrapping paper was gathered up. DAD SAID: SON, SEEMS THERE IS ANOTHER BOX UNDER THE TREE SKIRT. My brother pulled the little box out and it said: TO MARTIN. I pulled the wrapping off and there was MY SPEEDOMETER. Dad and my uncle brought my bike in to put on the speedometer. Not only did it tell my speed but it told how many miles I rode. WOW, I WAS THE ENVY OF ALL THE KIDS IN TOWN. My broken heart was mended instantly when I held that little box in my hands. Many years have come and gone. Mom and Dad have been gone many years. I remember with love one of the best presents I ever received was a speedometer for my bike. Thank you mom and dad.

LOVES GIVES? WHAT IS THE BEST PRESENT EVER GIVEN IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD? TAKEN? GIVEN?

My mom (67) died 25 years ago. I never gave her. She was taken. The brother under me (58) died, I never gave Tim, he was taken. Then my older brother Charles (67) died, I never gave him, he was taken. Then my baby brother died at 54. I never gave him, he was taken. My dad, Wade, died 2 years ago at 90. I never gave him, he was taken. I would have loved another Christmas? They were taken.

JESUS WAS NEVER TAKEN, HE GAVE… THE CHRISTMAS STORY OF THE BABE IN THE MANGER TELLS OF THE GREATEST GIFT EVER GIVEN. JESUS WAS NOT TAKEN --- GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD: HE GAVE.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 (MSG) "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.

“I AM GOOD ENOUGH.” HOW MUCH CAN GOOD ENOUGH BE? I OFTEN ASK WHAT THE REAL MORTAL ENEMY OF GETTING BETTER IS OR DOING YOUR BEST?

GOOD: favorable, morally right, positive qualities, pleasant, enjoyable.

BETTER: comparative of good, improved, more excellent, recover, higher.

BEST: superlative, superior, most excellent, highest quality, more pleasing, to excel.

GREAT: above normal, beyond average, intense.

GOOD? GOOD ENOUGH? HOW DO I SEE ME CAN PROJECT HOW OTHERS SEE ME?

Judges 6:12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

Judges 6:15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.

I had a friend that was learning to play the piano. She gave up and quit trying to learn when she compared herself to others and said: I CAN NEVER BE AS GOOD AS MY FRIEND. We can get caught up in comparison and never improve of getting better. Many think if they can’t be perfect, they don’t want to settle for anything less than…

PLEASE HEAR WHAT I AM SAYING: GOOD CAN BECOME THE ENEMY OF PROGRESS? WHY WILL WE NOT GET BETTER OR IMPROVE? WE WILL CHANGE WHEN THE PAIN OF STAYING THE SAME GETS GREATER THAN THE PAIN OF CHANGE.