Love One Another

Topics: Friendship, 

During his days as president, Thomas Jefferson and a group of companions
were traveling across the country on horseback. They came to a river
which had left its banks because of a recent downpour. The swollen river
had washed the bridge away. Each rider was forced to ford the river on
horseback, fighting for his life against the rapid currents. The very
real possibility of death threatened each rider, which caused a traveler
who was not part of their group to step aside and watch. After several
had plunged in and made it to the other side, the stranger asked
President Jefferson if he would ferry him across the river. The
president agreed without hesitation. The man climbed on, and shortly
thereafter the two of them made it safely to the other side. As the
stranger slid off the back of the saddle onto dry ground, one in the
group asked him, "Tell me, why did you select the president to ask this
favor of?" The man was shocked, admitting he had no idea it was the
president who had helped him. "All I know," he said, "Is that on some of
your faces was written the answer 'No,' and on some of them was the
answer 'yes.' His was a 'Yes' face."

C. Swindol, The Grace Awakening, Word, 1990, p. 6