How To Fix A Ford

How to Fix a Ford

I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.

Matthew 25:35

The great carmaker Henry Ford once traveled to Dublin, Ireland, on an extended vacation. He enjoyed the glory of the vibrant-green Emerald Isle, the standard tourist sites, and the wonderful food prepared by local cooks and chefs. Before he left, he also paid a visit to an orphanage where a building project was being planned.

Hearing that Henry Ford, who was both famous and rich, was coming for a visit, the director of the fund-raising committee for the orphanage decided to pay him a call. Ford welcomed him. After their discussion, Ford decided the project was indeed a worthy one, and he took out his checkbook and gave the man a check for an amount equal to two thousand British pounds. In those days, two thousand pounds was quite a generous gift, and the man thanked him profusely.

In fact, Ford’s generosity was so unusual that it made the headlines in the local Irish newspaper. There was just one problem: The paper reported, “Ford Gave 20,000 Pounds to Local Orphanage.”

Embarrassed by the huge mistake, the director of the orphanage called Mr. Ford to apologize. In fact, he offered, “I’ll be happy to phone the newspaper editor right away and ask them to print a retraction.”

Ford knew a retraction would be a bit awkward, and perhaps he felt a little guilty. So he said there was no need for the retraction. Instead, with a sigh, he took out his checkbook again and said to the director, “I’ll give you a check for the remaining eighteen thousand pounds.” But he added one request. “When the new building opens, I want this inscription put on it: ‘I was a stranger and you took me in.’”

O Lord, I know that you are the most generous benefactor ever. You lavish your wonderful blessings on us every day. Please help me to reflect your glory into the dark corners of the world by being generous too. Amen.