The Insignificant Job.

Stories Retold

A man was asked to paint a boat.

While painting the boat, he found a small hole in the hull and sealed it. The job done, he received his money and left.

The next day, the owner of the boat, a rich man of the town rushed to the painter’s house in bated breath and presented him with a large check the painter has never ever received.
“I don’t know how to say thanks for your sevice.” gushed the breathless owner.

The painter was surprised:

• You’ve already paid me for painting the boat! he said.
• But this is not for the paint job.
  -It’s for the hole you have repaired in the boat.
• Ah! But it was such a small service. I scarcely remember doing it. Certainly it’s not worth paying me such a high amount for something so insignificant!
• My dear friend, you do not understand. Said the owner.
• When I asked you to paint the boat, I forgot to mention about the hole.

When the boat dried, my kids took the boat and went on a fishing trip.

• They did not know that there was a hole. I was not at home at that time. When I returned and noticed that they had taken the boat into the sea, then only I remembered the hole.
• Imagine my desperation and again imagine the relief I felt when both of them returned from fishing safely. Then I examined the boat and found that the hole has been perfectly sealed by you. You have saved the lives of my children!
• In fact I do not have ENOUGH money to pay your SMALL good deed.
  …
  So in life, whenever you are given a small paint job, carefully repair all the “LEAKS” you find, because you never know when one life is saved by that minor act of yours. You never know when God gives you a pleasant opportunity to take his place and save someone else’s life. Those insignificant things make you a God for someone else.
  …
  I wish you may have repaired numerous “boat holes” of several people along the way without realizing how many lives you may have saved in the process. Have a Good day!

Source: unknown.