Abigail, a friend of David's

I've been reading a lot about David in the Bible lately. Yesterday I read the story of David and Abigail. It's truly one of my favorite stories from the Bible. It's a story that shows how a kind gesture can make the biggest difference in someone's life.

(to find the story I'm referring to, read: 1 Sam. 25)

When I was a children's pastor, I was teaching my kids about the fruits of the Spirit. We were learning about kindness and I taught them this story. It so happened that God wanted me to have some first hand experience with this.

It was towards the end of my 2nd semester in college and my roommates and I were starting to butt heads. After being in a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment with 2 other girls, our nerves were a little raw and needed some breathing room. I can't remember what it was that we were fighting about, but I remember reading this story and thinking, I really ought to act on this. So I made her some cupcakes and brought her my peace offering. We made up within a matter of minutes and went on with the rest of the semester. Let me just tell you, my roommates from my first year, Brandi and Maggie, are two of my favorite people in the whole world! I feel like they are my sisters!

(From left to right: Maggie, Brandi and myself)

I think one of David's love languages was gifts... He was so angry at Nabal that he was going to murder him. Then Nabal's dear wife, Abigail, steps into the picture and brings him lots of gifts and all of the sudden his heart is changed. Can I also recite the scripture that says, "A man who finds a wife, finds a good thing..." (Proverbs 18:22) What's funny to me is that after Nabal dies, Abigail marries David... interesting, huh?

If you're in a tiff with someone try showing them kindness by offering a gift.