The Sugar Cookie Dividend
I am reading in the Old Testament and at the end of chapter nineteen in Deuteronomy, God talks about having witnesses for crimes that are committed. He says the people should inflict on the offender what he has done to the victim. Verse 20 says, “Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” God did not want evil to be among the people of Israel. He wanted them to thrive.I was thinking that instead of thinking about this in a way that hurts someone. Let us think about the good that we can carry out if we heed this in a different manner. Instead of thinking about the life, eye, tooth, hand and foot hurting us, think about them helping us.
The foot: if some one goes out of their way to do something for you, should you not do something in return? If you need a ride to work and someone comes to your house and picks you up, return that kindness. They may not need a ride, but I am sure there is something you could do for them. Maybe make them a batch of sugar cookies in the shapes of little feet to show your appreciation.
The hand: if someone does something for you that you cannot do, should you not do something in return? What would you do if you cannot sew and you need a pair of pants hemmed? If you had a friend that is good at sewing you could ask her. She is not going to need anything sewn in return, but she might like a batch of sugar cookies made in the shapes of little hands.
The tooth: if you need encouragement and your friend lifts you up, should you not do something in return? There are times when you need someone to give you solid Christian counsel and your sister lets God speak to you through her and you hear what you need to hear, do that for her in return. And in the meantime, you could make her a batch of sugar cookies in the shape of mouths with teeth in them.
The eye: if a friend sees you at your worst and loves you as if you were at your best, should you not do something in return? If you have a moment of sinful weakness and you are throwing a fit and your friend can see into your heart the way Jesus sees us, knowing that you are better than what you are right then, you should be there for her when she is having that bad day. Or, better yet, you could make her a batch of sugar cookies in the shapes of eyes.
The life: if someone sees you hurting and lacking and lays down their life for you, should you not do something in return? If you were in a place where darkness surrounded you and lived in you and some one shined a light in you that gave you life, do what you can in return. You should lay your life down for them, living everyday acting in the way they would have you act and loving in a way they would have you love, and you could make them a batch of sugar cookies made into the shape of crosses.
