The story is told of a laborer who was a mature Christian and gave a solid testimony before all who knew him. His boss came to him one day and said, “You know, whatever you’ve got, I want. You have such peace and joy and contentment. How can I get this?”

The laborer said, “Go to your home, put on your best suit, come down here, and work in the mud with the rest of us—and you can have it.”

“What are you talking about? I could never do that. I’m the boss, you’re the worker. I can’t do that. That’s beneath my dignity.” The boss came back a couple of months later and said, “I ask you again, what is it that you have and how can I get it?”

“I told you, go put on your best suit, come down and work in the mud with us, and you can have it.” Again the boss became furious and walked off.

Finally, in desperation he came back to the laborer and said, “I don’t care what it takes! I’ll do anything.” The laborer said, “Will you put on your best suit and come down and work in the mud?” The boss agreed that he would do even that. Then the laborer said, “You don’t have to.”

Do you see the point? The laborer knew what was standing between the boss and Christ—pride and self.1087

When asked what is the secret of a long and happy life, the Duchess of Windsor responded, “Fill what’s empty, empty what’s full, and scratch where it itches.”