I'll Do You One Better

I took the twins to the library this weekend to pick up a couple books.  They love these trips and I use it as a time to update my current audio book.  Since I have a 45 minute commute I use the time to listen to books.  It usually takes me awhile to find a book that I will want to listen to, but this time was different.  On the "New Audio Books" shelf there was Autobiography of Mark Twain.

This was a book I had given as a Christmas present and had every intention of borrowing back once it was read.  However, it is quite massive and I was still wrestling with Anna Karenina (see previous post), but I thought that I could attack it in audio.


Except for a 2-disc introduction, the book has not disappointed as far as I have gotten.  There is a significant section where Twain talks about his relationship with General/President Grant.  His description of Grant's character is what caught my attention.  He was a man who would go beyond the call of duty, inconveniencing himself to the point of abject poverty.  When asked to write a letter, he would make a personal visit.  When publishing him memoirs, he accepted a lower payment because he wanted to make sure the publishing house was going to make money from the financial arrangement.  He was an embodiment of Jesus' command, "If someone forces you to go one mile with him, go with him two."

This made me think about my attitude toward things that I need to do.  It only took me a moment's introspection to know that I often see requests for help as a burden.  In response to this realization I am going to try and use the phrase "I'll do you one better" more often.  This will work for big and small things.  If someone asks me to pass the salt, they'll get the pepper as well.  If someone asks for a pencil, they're getting a pen.  Want to borrow a book?  I'll do you one better - I'll write up your life story!  Nice to meet you, need a handshake?  I'll do you one better - open mouth kiss!  Need a kidney?  I'll do you one better - you're getting a lung!

Whoa.  I'm realizing that "I'll do you one better" is a dangerous phrase.  I suppose there is this warning - be careful what you ask me to do for you. I may end up looking a bit too much like Jesus.