"The people of the island were very kind to us. It was cold and rainy, so they built a fire on the shore to welcome us." Acts 28:2 NLT
While driving down the road, my granddaddy gave the finger to every driver he
met.
Down South, we pride ourselves in friendliness. Some parts appear friendlier
than others. During a certain time of the year, everyone I pass in their yard is
waving frantically. (In reality, they probably aren't any friendlier. They're
just shooing away gnats.) I've had the privilege of talking with a number of
people who have moved from other regions of the United States and had them tell
me how friendly we are-a welcome relief.
My granddaddy fell under the category of friendly. He drove an ice truck, milk
truck, and ice cream truck for more than 40 years. When I was old enough, I
spent the entire summer helping him deliver ice cream. Every vehicle he met
coming down the road, he gave a finger to. Not the middle finger, but the index
finger. You see, in the South, that's the finger we give. Rarely do we throw up
a hand; we merely lift one finger. Before I knew any better, I often wondered
how my granddaddy knew so many people. Then I discovered he hardly knew any of
the people he fingered. He was simply being friendly and living out what he had
learned from residing in the South.
Paul and those with him on the ship encountered friendliness after their ship
ran aground. He was on his way to Rome to stand trial for his faith in Christ.
While on this unexpected stopover, he and the crew encountered friendly
islanders who gave them a finger. In return, Paul showed them a finger by
healing the chief official's father.
Friendliness is not genetic, but it is learned and free. If we want friends, we
have to be one. Coming from an environment where anger and rudeness was shown is
no excuse to act the same way. God considers us His friends when we accept His
Son as our Savior. Since He accepts us as friends, He expects us to return the
favor. While having more than a few good friends in a lifetime is rare, I can
show a finger of friendliness to everyone I meet-even my enemies.
Ask God to help you give a finger to the people in your path.
Martin Wiles Hodges, South Carolina, USA
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