As he was about to hand the text to the clerk he hesitated. "Now why do I have to write 'profitably'? Certainly, my wife knows that I am no dummy. Would I sell my wheat at a loss?" So he crossed out the word "profitably."

Then he went over the telegram more carefully. "Tsk-tsk! What have I done? Doesn't my wife know already that I went to town to sell my wheat? So why the devil do I write the words 'sold wheat'?" He crossed out "sold wheat."

Made doubly cautious now by his errors, he reread the telegram. "Heavenly day! What am I jabbering about? What makes me write 'return tomorrow'? When then should I return--next month? My wife will suppose I've gone out of my mind and imagine that I have money to burn." Without hesitation he crossed out "return tomorrow." Then with an eagle eye he went over the telegram once more.

"What a fool I am! Why do I have to write 'embrace lovingly'? How else do I embrace my wife? And why should I embrace her today of all days? Is it her birthday or something?" He crossed out "embrace lovingly."

Looking down at the telegram, he noticed that there was only one word left now--his name, "Itzik." "Why do I have to sign 'Itzik'? Who else would be sending my wife a telegram?" And he crossed out the word "Itzik."

Now he scanned the telegram, and, finding that he had crossed out every word, a light dawned on him. "Do I really have to send this telegram? Money doesn't grow on trees! So he tore up the telegram and went away rejoicing that by his cleverness he had saved himself fifty kopecks.

Why, he was just being practical, wasn't he? He was also, however, missing a golden opportunity to let his wife know that he cared.

What are you going to do today to let the ones God has blessed you with know that you love and care for them?

Lord Jesus, thank you for caring for me. Help me to show all of God's people that I care for them. Amen.

Ron Newhouse