A few years ago, a radio station ran a contest. Disc jockeys invited their
listeners to tune in their clock radios. "Just for fun," they said, "when you
wake up to the sound of FM-106, call and tell us the first words you spoke when
you rolled out of bed. If you're the third caller, you'll win $106."
It didn't take long for the contest to grow in enthusiasm. The first morning, a
buoyant disc jockey said, "Caller number three, what did you say when you rolled
out of bed this morning?" A groggy voice said, "Do I smell coffee burning?"
Another day, a sleepy clerical worker said, "Oh no, I'm late for work." Somebody
else said her first words were, "Honey, did I put out the dog last night?" A
muffled curse was immediately heard in the background, and then a man was heard
to say, "No, you didn't." It was a funny contest and drew a considerable
audience.
One morning, however, the third caller said something unusual. The station phone
rang. "Good morning, this is FM-106. You're on the air. What did you say when
you rolled out of bed this morning?"
A voice with a Bronx accent replied, "You want to know my first words in the
morning?"
The bubbly DJ said, "Yes, sir! Tell us what you said."
The Bronx voice responded, "Shema, Israel ... Hear O Israel, the Lord our God,
the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with
all your soul, and with all your might." There was a moment of embarrassed
silence. Then the radio announcer said, "Sorry, wrong number," and cut to a
commercial.
It is a sad commentary on our society that people find more joy in hearing
people curse in the morning than from God's name being glorified. One of the
jobs given to the Levites in the Old Testament was "to stand every morning to
thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at evening." (I Chron. 23:30).
All of this is intended to make you stop and think. What were the first words
you spoke when you got out of bed this morning? Was it a curse or a blessing?
Did your first words revolve around your job, your dog, or your God who created
you and gave me a new day? Just a little food for thought.
Alan Smith
alansmith.servant@gmail.com
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