Check Up on Yourself

One day a boy walked into a drugstore and asked to use the phone. He dialed a number and said, "Dr. Brown, do you need a boy to mow your lawn and run errands?" He listened, then said, "Oh, you have a boy you like? All right, thank you."

When the youngster hung up, the druggist said, "Just a minute, son! I can give you work."

The boy said, "Thanks, but I have a job."

The druggist said, "But weren't you just on the phone asking for work?"

"No sir," The boy answered, "I work for Dr. Brown. I was just checking up on myself."

This is Howard Butt, Jr., of Laity Lodge. To be sharp, to be up on the job, we also must check up on ourselves . . . in the high calling of our daily work.

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but man is tested by the praise he receives.

(Prov. 27:21)

Image by Eric Leslie. Used with permission. Sourced via Flickr.

• Tags:  
• character
• reflection