One of my favorite books when I was a boy was Secret of the Cave by Uncle
Arthur Maxwell. It was about some boys who used a cave as a base from which
they secretly did good deeds for their community. I used to fantasize how
very neat that would be. Now the story has been reversed on me. My
electric lawn mower ceased to do its job. The electric motor would whir but
the blade did not go around.

Unbeknownst to me my very observant engineer neighbor absconded with,
repaired, cleaned, sharpened the blade and then returned my mower. It
appears to be brand new. Now how's that for living in a great neighborhood?

While I would like very much to do something for him as repayment, I have
come to realize that would devalue his gift. Sometimes the finest thing we
can do is to allow another to help us. We do not have to respond in kind
when a "Thank You" will be just fine.

And then there is the following problem. There is a memorable line from
the musical "Annie, Get Your Gun." It says, "Anything you can do I can do
better; I can do anything better than you." In my situation the words
would be "Anything I can do; he can do better. He can do anything better
than I." I'm not trying to be modest. He really can. He is a gifted
engineer.

Sometimes it is difficult for us to sit back and allow another to give. But
that is an important part of life. If we were not gracious receivers when
would the gracious givers have an opportunity to shine? See Luke 10.