A man and his young son went to a repair shop to get a rake fixed. When the job was finished, the man asked what the charge would be.

The shop owner replied, "Oh, there is no charge. I'm happy to do it for you!"

The man did not feel right about accepting charity, however, so he persisted in trying to give at least a token payment.

Again and again, the owner refused to accept any money. Finally, his patience was about to run out, so he exclaimed, "Can't you let a man do something now and then just to stretch his soul?"

That humble store owner's reply was a short but powerful sermon on the joy and happiness that can come from a little "stretching of the soul." His attitude is an example of the truth of Proverbs 11:17, which says, "The merciful man does good for his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh." We can learn from W. F. Adeney, who wrote, "The exercise of mercy begins in the pain of self-sacrifice, but it soon bears fruit in inward peace and gladness."

I challenge you to be loving and generous toward others. You will find that doing good carries its own reward. It's a wonderful way of stretching your soul.    — Richard De Haan