I have heard a particular saying a lot lately. It is widely accepted in our culture as a “truism” — a statement that is obviously true.
“No good deed goes unpunished.”
How does anyone get so cynical, Lord, that they believe this is “obviously true”? Who started this saying? And how did it become so ingrained in our culture that almost everyone can quote it?
According to Wikipedia, it has been attributed to Billy Wilder (Academy-award winning American film producer), Andrew Mellon (American banker / philanthropist), and Oscar Wilde (Irish playwright, novelist and poet).
Maybe initially, it was intended to be a joke and it took on a life of its own.
Maybe. Or maybe not.
Inherent in this statement is the belief that there is always a “shoe” waiting to fall. Always a “wrong” that will cancel out every “right.” Always a storm certain to rain on every parade.
It reminds me of that old optimism/pessimism test: Show people a glass half-full of water and ask them what they see. I guess people in the “no good deed goes unpunished” camp not only see the glass half empty, they see it as bone dry and broken!
🙁 🙂
I prefer Your “take” on Life, Lord. Or rather, Your way of transforming Life!
I imagine You would say something more like, “No bad deed is impossible to redeem.”
Wait a minute… You have already said it! 🙂
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Sometimes to really get our heads on straight, we have to turn the world’s wisdom upside-down… don’t we, Lord?
Or maybe we just need to stand on our heads… so we can see everything more clearly???
🙂 🙂 🙂
Joyfully Yours,
Abba’s Girl