Darrell Jones was a partner in the Purina feed store north of town. Bob Wilson was one of the regular customers. Darrell had often seen Bob drunk at ten in the morning, there had been heated arguments with him in the feed store, and his mouth was foul, both from the tobacco he chewed and the language he used. He was frequently late in paying his bills. Today he was different and he had been for several weeks. Darrell looked across the counter at Bob. He had on a clean shirt, he was sober, there was no tobacco juice on his beard and he had been in the store for at least fifteen minutes without swearing or starting an argument. In fact he had helped another customer put several bags of feed on his truck from the dock. If he had not known Bob so well he would have wondered if he was in fact looking at the right person.

Bob ordered his feed, loaded it, paid the bill with a check and started to his truck. About four steps from the counter Bob turned and looked back at Darrell. “I forgot to say thanks and you know God loves you.” Then he turned and went to his truck. The remark hit Darrell and he followed Bob to the loading dock.

“What did you say?” Darrell felt anger well up in him. Why would Bob say that to him? What right did he have to say it? Someone like him.

“God loves you. He really does.”

“Why did you say that to me?” Darrell was obviously upset by the remark, Bob didn’t understand why it should bother him but he felt a love for Darrell.

“I’m sorry if it makes you angry, I just wanted you to know He loves you and nothing you can do will change that. Believe me, I know.” He smiled as he said it.

Darrell started to walk away then turned back. “You’re different, what happened to you?”

“I asked Jesus to forgive me, he did, I’m happy and I like people. Even if I didn’t like them, I have to love them, He did.”

That night Darrell couldn’t sleep. He had been hostile to Bob for no reason and he needed to see him and apologize. The next morning he went down to the store, and checked the records, Bob’s account was up to date. It had not been delinquent for more than four months. He cleaned up the morning work and told his secretary he would be leaving the store for about an hour. He put a salt lick in his car and drove out to the Wilson farm. At the house he learned Bob was behind the barn changing a tire on the wagon. He was singing “The Old Rugged Cross” as he worked. Darrell listened a few minutes before he walked up. The singing didn’t sound great but Bob was obviously happy. Just as Darrell walked up Bob hit his thumb with a hammer, real hard. He held it as he looked up.