I need a push.

This one is for you Jim. The first ever painting I did only using my fingertips, not a brush in sight. 

Yesterday I was talking about having conversations with people you do not see eye to eye with and how whether we like it or not we need to learn to appreciate their right to disagree and have there own opinion. 

Now that is all very well but somebody pointed out to me that this was not easy when you for no reason of your own find yourself talking to somebody who is rather the worse for alcohol.

An example of this is to be found in the true story of the man and his wife who were awakened at 3.00am by a loud pounding on the door.

The husband gets up and makes his weary way to the door where he sees a drunken stranger, standing in the pouring rain, he is asking for a push.

"Not a chance," says the man, "it is 3.00 am in the morning!"

He slams the door and returns to bed.

"Who was that?" his wife asks.

"Just some drunk guy asking for a push," says the husband.

"Did you help hime?" the wife retorts.

"No, I did not, its 3.00am in the morning it is pouring with rain."

"Well, you have a very short memory," says the wife. "Can you not remember about three months ago when we broke down, and those kind lads helped us in the pouring rain."

"I think you should go out and help him. You should be ashamed of yourself. God loves the drunk also."

The man reluctantly does as he is told, gets dressed , and heads out into the pouring rain.

He calls out in the dark, "Hello, are you still there?"

"Yes," come back the answer.

"Do you still need a push?" calls out  the husband.

"Yes, please!" comes the reply.

"Where are you?"

"Over here ........ on the swing," replies the drunk.

What is the lesson? Twofold! There are times when reason and rational go out the window and trying to be kind and considerate is not the best way to respond. Second. The wife is not always correct even when she thinks she is. 

Have a trouble free day.