Back To Home Page To Archives - Spring of Life - H. Roger Bothwell Doing The Right Thing A book about the history of England was checked out of the Harvard University library 233 years ago. It was returned this week. At a nickel a day the fine will be $4,252.25. it seems that on January 25, 1764 the library burned down and this book along with 143 others was out on loan. Thus it was spared. Another book entitled, “The Christian Warfare Against the Devil World and Flesh” (catchy title) was returned by a student who was profusely thanked and then expelled because he had borrowed it without checking it out. So much for doing the right thing. Most likely all of us at some time or other in our lives have reaped negative results by doing “the right thing.” It is one of the ironies of life that zaps each of us at least once in our life. Usually it occurs when we try to right a wrong. Our motives are misunderstood and the effort ends up backfiring and not being worth the effort. However there is a plus side. It is knowing in our hearts the truth. We know we did the right thing and that in itself is the reward. Being true to oneself is not easy but one of life’s most rewarding adventures. Not every misdeed is caught on video cameras but it is caught on the video tape in our brain. It is recorded and available for playback over and over. We call it a guilty conscience and it can plague us into the wee small hours of the morning. Making it right, doing the right thing can indeed erase the pain because we know we have done the right thing. While some people might not respond positively to our attempt to right a wrong God always will. He will never fail to forgive and reward our attempts to do good. Jesus talked about “treasure in heaven.” You can be sure God has placed a big deposit in your name when you do right because it is right. I'm Roger Bothwell and my address is hrb1@tiac.net or 151 Old Farm Rd. Leominster, MA 01453. Thank you for your support of our faith ministry. Past devotionals can be accessed at Archives