One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his school fee found he had empty pockets and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal, he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"
"You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept payment for a kindness." He said, "Then I thank you from my heart."
As this boy, Howard Kelly, left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and mankind was strong also.
Years later, that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately, he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown, he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room, determined to do his best to save her life. From that day, he gave special attention to the case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won. She was saved. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, wrote something on the edge, and sent the bill to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally, she looked, and something caught her attention on the side as she read these words...
"PAID IN FULL for one glass of milk."
"You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept payment for a kindness." He said, "Then I thank you from my heart."
As this boy, Howard Kelly, left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and mankind was strong also.
Years later, that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately, he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown, he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room, determined to do his best to save her life. From that day, he gave special attention to the case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won. She was saved. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, wrote something on the edge, and sent the bill to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally, she looked, and something caught her attention on the side as she read these words...
"PAID IN FULL for one glass of milk."