I was looking through some of my papers and found this inspiring story and thought it would be good to share with you.
Farmer Fleming heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He ran and saw, up to his waist in black muck, a terrified boy, screaming and struggling. Farmer Fleming saved the boy from what would have been a slow and terrifying death.
Next day, a fine carriage pulled up to the farmer’s house. The gentleman introduced himself as the father of the boy the farmer had saved. “I want to repay you, you saved my son’s life.”
“No, I can’t accept payment for what I did.” At that moment the farmer’s own son came to the door.
“Is that your son? – I’ll make you a deal. Let me pay for his education to the level of my own son’s education. If your son is like his father he’ll grow to be a man we both will be proud of.”
Farmer Fleming agreed. His son attended the best schools and in time graduated from St Mary’s Hospital Medical School in London. He became known throughout the world as Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of penicillin.
Years later, the nobleman’s son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia. Penicillin saved his life. The name of the nobleman was Lord Randolf Churchill and his son’s name, Sir Winston Churchill.
Acts of kindness give life to our world. They are creative and their goodness grows in love shared and shared . . . . .
God bless us all to be kind,
Rev Fr John I.C.
(22nd January 2023)
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