William Wordsworth also said it well: “That best portion of a good man’s life; his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.”

The following well-known anonymous poem is well worth a reminder:

“Whatever our hands touch –

We leave fingerprints!

On walls, on furniture

On doorknobs, dishes, books.

There’s no escape.

As we touch we leave our identity.”

So for today’s suggested prayer: “Dear God:

‘Wherever I go today

Help me leave heartprints!

Heartprints of compassion

Of understanding and love.

‘Heartprints of kindness
And genuine concern.
May my heart touch a lonely neighbor
Or a runaway daughter
Or an anxious mother
Or perhaps an aged grandfather.

‘Send me out today
To leave heartprints.
And if someone should say,
“I felt your touch,”
May they also sense the love
that is deep within my heart.’3

“Thank You God for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. Ephesians 4:32 (NIV).

2. Proverbs 14:31 (NIV).

3. Author Unknown

Many years ago, when I was a youth, I read the following poem that I have never forgotten. It was written by John Oxenham:

Love ever gives, forgives outlives,
And ever stands with open hands,
And while it lives, it gives.
For this is love’s prerogative–
to give, and give, and give.

As the Apostle Paul wrote in perhaps the greatest literary masterpiece on love ever written: “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.”²

Love is much more than sentiment and even a feeling. It’s a commitment of one imperfect person to another. It’s a choice. It’s a byproduct of growth and maturity. It is a gift from God. It also needs to be learned. We learn it from loving people who know us totally—warts and all—and still love us. And we learn it from others who model it, the supreme example being the Lord Jesus.

And remember, we always need to do the loving thing—even when we don’t feel loving.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, in the words of John Powell, ‘Please don’t let me die without having fully lived and fully loved.’ Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. Paul the Apostle (1 Corinthians 13:13, TLB).

2. 1 Corinthians13:1-3 (NIV).

Chances are you’ve been bitten by a mosquito, an ant, a gnat, a bee or a wasp, but have you ever been bitten by a lion or an elephant? Not too likely.

The point is that it’s usually the little things in life that get under our skin and upset our apple cart more often than the biggies.

It’s also the little things that make a big difference to the quality of our life. A simple thank you, a kindly word, a word of encouragement, a telephone call, a note, an email, a greeting card, a smile, a word of appreciation, a flower, and so on. As another put it: “It’s the little things that bother us and put us on the rack; you can sit upon a mountain, but you can’t sit on a tack.”

Why not determine to do something kind every day for someone, and especially for your loved ones as well as to friends and work mates. As someone else said, “When we deserve love the least is when we need it the most!”

Do it today!

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, help me to always remember the important little things in life and give such gifts every day, not only to my loved ones and friends, but also to those who cross my path who need it—including those whom I don’t especially like. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. Paul, the Apostle (Ephesians 4:32).

“My wife is leaving me,” one man said to me, “what can I do?” My gut response (which I kept to myself) was, “Why didn’t you come to me five years sooner?”

I tried to assure this man that if he and his wife both genuinely wanted to save their marriage, there were no guarantees, but with wise counsel, personal honesty, commitment, hard work and God’s help, they could.

One way to keep a marriage healthy is to see and treat problem symptoms when they first appear. If these symptoms are the fruit of a deeper root, which they often are, they won’t go away of themselves. The longer we leave symptoms untreated the more tenacious and embedded they become.

If there are things in your marriage or in other areas of your life that bother you, it is wise to seek competent guidance from a qualified pastor or counselor right away. Don’t put it off any longer. Make that appointment you know you need to make—today.

As today’s Scripture says: “Listen to wise counsel” and “trust in the Lord!”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please give me the courage to admit my problems, the courage to seek wise counsel, and the faith, help, courage, and determination I need to overcome them. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen.”

NOTE: For some counseling resources go to: https://learning.actsweb.org/counseling_resources.php.

1. Proverbs 22:17-19 (TLB).

Among the most painful of life’s experiences is rejection by a loved one.

When a couple is in a hopeless situation where there is continual rejection, hatred, and/or physical and emotional abuse by one or both partners, should they stay together for the sake of the children or should they cut their losses? Some say they should stay together no matter what. Others say to do so is insanity. But what does God say?

It is true that God hates divorce. “’I hate divorce,’ says the LORD God of Israel.”² But who in his right mind doesn’t? Jesus, in the Gospels, was also against divorce.

God’s Word also says, “Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife [or husband].”¹ And again, the Apostle Paul wrote, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”³ This implies that it isn’t possible to live peaceably with everyone.

Because of what God’s Word says, I believe that divorce should only ever be the last resort. Marriage partners need to commit themselves to resolve their disagreements and seek all the help needed to achieve this goal. However, in cases where one partner refuses to work on resolution and files for divorce, the other spouse doesn’t have a choice.

Also because of what God’s Word says, where there are major conflicts and only one partner is willing to work on the relationship and get marriage counseling, tough love is needed. In these—and especially in abusive situations—the one being abused needs to set boundaries and kindly but firmly say to his/her partner, “Unless you are willing to seek help together, I will no longer tolerate your abusive behavior and will have to separate myself and the children from you.” When one sets boundaries, he/she needs to keep them. This won’t guarantee resolution but without setting and keeping strict boundaries, it will almost guarantee that there will never be resolution.

Furthermore, wherever a spouse and/or children are being abused, physically, sexually and/or emotionally, the abused spouse needs to separate herself and the children immediately. The separating spouse needs to make it very clear to the abusive partner that he/she will not get back together until he/she (the abusive partner) gets help and overcomes his or her abusive behaviors.

In broken relationships playing the blame game doesn’t resolve anything because both partners are contributing something to the failure of the relationship—even if one spouse is too passive or codependent.

Only when all else fails should a couple file for divorce.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, whenever I am in a conflict situation, please help me to see what I am contributing and, rather than playing the blame game, get the help I need to resolve my issues. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. Proverbs 21:9 (NIV).

2. Malachi 2:16 (NIV).

3. Romans 12:18 (NIV).

You may recall the story where Jesus was invited to have lunch with one of the Pharisees. While he was there a woman of the streets—a prostitute—heard that Jesus was there and came, fell at his feet, weeping, and wiped her tears from his feet with her hair, and then anointed his feet with expensive perfume.

In our jargon, the religious Pharisee was horrified and in his heart judged Jesus for accepting this sinful woman’s loving attention and humble attitude.

Jesus, knowing what was in the Pharisee’s heart went on to explain that because this woman came to him pouring out her heart, her many sins were forgiven. Then he made a very simple but profound statement: “He who has been forgiven little loves little.”

Or to put it another way: “He who has been forgiven much loves much.”

This is so true, when in genuine humility we confess our sins, not only to God but to a trusted friend or two, and experience their love and acceptance, little by little we learn to forgive and love ourselves. So the more honest and open we are, the more we can be forgiven and loved. And the more we are forgiven and loved the more loving and forgiving we become.

Suggested Prayer: “Dear God, please give me the honesty and courage to bring to the light and confess every secret sin, mixed motive, jealousies, pride, acts of sin, sins of the spirit, sins of failure—every sin—confess these not only to You, but also to a trusted friend or two and experience Your love and forgiveness, their loving acceptance, and become a much more loving, accepting and forgiving child of yours. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name. Amen.”

1. Luke 7:47 (TLB).

Once upon a time a loaf of bread fell from a bakery truck and as it hit the ground a crumb broke loose. Three sparrows all eyed the crumb and swooped down to grab it, but began fighting over it.

Eventually one of the sparrows succeeded in scooping up the crumb in its beak and flew away with it—hotly pursued by the other two sparrows. A frenzied aerial fracas took place until the crumb was completely consumed.

The only thing these sparrows saw was the crumb. None noticed the loaf still on the ground.

How often we consume our energies squabbling over trivialities while the true riches of life go unnoticed and escape us. And how often we concentrate our energies on non-essential issues while the needs of the hurting are neglected and the lost go to hell!

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please give me the wisdom to see and the good sense to major on the majors and not get carried away majoring on the minors. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name. Amen.”

1. Colossians 3:1-2 (NIV).

According to an article on the Holistic Living web site, “Sonora Dodd, of Washington, first proposed the idea of a ‘father’s day’ in 1909. Dodd was inspired with the idea of Father’s Day while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon at church. She wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. William Smart, a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife (Mrs. Dodd’s mother) died in childbirth with their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington state. It was after Mrs. Dodd became an adult that she realized the strength and selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent.

“The first Father’s Day was observed on June 19, 1910 in Spokane, Washington. At about the same time in various towns and cities across America, other people were beginning to celebrate a ‘father’s day.’ In 1926 President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father’s Day. Finally in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father’s Day [for the U.S.A]. It has since been adopted by Canada, Europe and several other countries.

“Father’s Day has become a day to not only honor your father, but all men who act as a father figure. Stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers, and adult male friends are all to be honored on Father’s Day.”²

I wish it were true that every one of us had a father like Sonora Dodd had because, in spite of what many women’s libbers and same-sex marriage advocates are claiming to the contrary, the role of a healthy, emotionally involved father (and mother) is critical for the emotional healthy development of both boys and girls.

“According to Dr. T. Berry Brazelton [child development expert], a father’s involvement with a child increases the child’s IQ, the child’s motivation to learn, and the child’s self-confidence. In addition, children with involved dads are more likely to develop a sense of humor as well as an ‘inner excitement.’”³

And for all fathers on this Father’s Day, let us not only appreciate the love of our children—and grandchildren—but let us also realize the importance and responsibility of the God-given role we have been entrusted with in the emotional development and health of our children.

Suggested prayer, “Dear God, as a father please help me to realize the role of my God-given responsibility and be the best possible father I can be. And if in any way I have failed to be the father I should have been, please forgive me, and help me wherever possible to do whatever I need to do to restore my relationship with my children. And thank You for all the love that I do receive from them. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. Colossians 3:21, (NIV).

2. Compiled from several sources on the internet by Bob Proctor. Cited on Holistic Living web site. http://tinyurl.com/jog24

3. Source: Victor Parachin, “The Fine Art of Good Fathering,” Herald of Holiness, February 1995, pp. 32-33.

Dr. Alfred Adler, international psychiatrist, based the following conclusions on a careful analysis of thousands of patients: “The most important task imposed by religion has always been, ‘Love your neighbor….’ It is the individual who is not interested in his fellow man that has the greatest difficulties in life and provides the greatest injury to others. It is from among such individuals that all human failures spring.”

Almost every day I pray, “Dear God, I’m available again today. Please make me usable and use me to be ‘as Christ’ today to my family, to someone in need, and in some way to every life I touch.”

What a difference we Christians would make in our homes, places of business, schools, cities, and nation if every one of us would make this commitment every day, mean it, and practice it.

Will you make that commitment to God today?

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, I’m available. Please make me usable and use me today to be ‘as Jesus’ to my family, to someone in need, and in some way to every life I touch. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. Mark 12:31.