The Ugliest Man

The Ugliest Man

May the words of my mouthand the meditation of my heartbe pleasing to you,O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

My brother, Frank, and his wife, Kay, were hosting a party for some friends. To help Kay in the preparations, Frank said he would go to the store to get a list of things she needed. So he took their three-year-old daughter, Marcy, with him to the local grocery store.

After putting Marcy in the shopping cart and buckling her in, Frank began searching for the items on Kay’s list. He was about halfway through the list when he turned the corner and started down another aisle. Although Frank did not look up, out of the corner of his eye he noticed that a rather large man had entered the aisle from the opposite direction and was pushing his cart toward them.

Just as the man came even with them, Marcy pointed at the big man and said loudly, “Daddy, that man’s ugly!”

Frank froze and then said, “Marcy! That’s not nice.”

“But Daddy, that man’s ugly!”

Frank turned beet red; sheepishly looked at the man, who was huge and truly less than handsome; and apologized, “I’m sorry, mister.” Then he held his breath, not knowing what to expect in return.

The big man grinned and said, “It’s all right. I know I’m not the best lookin’ feller in town.” Then he patted Marcy on the head and walked away whistling a happy little tune.

In a similar story Abraham Lincoln said he once met a woman who was riding horseback in the woods. As he stopped to let her pass, she also stopped, and looking at Abe intently, she said, “I do believe you are the ugliest man I have ever seen.”

Abe said, “Madam, you are probably right, but I can’t help it.”

“No,” said she, “you can’t help it. But you might stay at home.”

Goodness!

Forgive me, Father, when my words hurt someone else, whether by accident or on purpose. Let my speech always honor and glorify you. Amen.