Sacrifice - Timeout Story

A poor boy was selling goods from one door to another to pay for his studies. One day he foundthat he had only one dime leftand he was hungry. While approaching the next house he decided to ask for a meal.

When a young woman opened the door, he only dared to ask for a glass of water. She looked at him and understood that probably the boy is hungry. So she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it and then asked how much he owed her. The woman replied, “You don‘t own me anything. My mother taught me never to accept pay for a kindness.” “Then I thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he said. After that the poor boy was stronger not just physically but his faith had grown as well because of her kindness. The boy‘s name was Howard Kelly.

Many years passed. One day that woman became seriously ill. The local doctors could not help her so they sent her to a larger city where her rare disease would be studied by specialists. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he entered her room in the hospital he immediately recognized the woman who had showed kindness to him when he was poor. The doctor was determined to do his best to help her recover from her disease.

The struggle was long but together they managed to overcome her illness. After some time the woman received a bill for her treatment. She was worried that the amount to pay would be so significant that it would take the rest of her life to pay for it. Finally when the woman looked at the bill she noticed words that were written on the side of the bill. The words were: “Paid in full with a glass of milk.”

Do you think either person in the story did what they did because the expected something in return?

Does your effort in practice depend on what your team gives you in return (ie. praise, playing time)?

What do you have to offer that this team needs?

What do you think will be the outcome if everyone on this team gives their absolute best, without expecting anything in return?