Do to others as you would have them do to you.—Luke 6:31 (NIV)

Coming up the driveway after a hike with Gracie, I noticed a couple of boxes at the front door. “Look,” I said, “maybe Chewy came.” My golden retriever popped up from the back of the Jeep. She knows the word Chewy, recognizes her food boxes, and adores the driver who delivers them. Alas, these boxes weren’t from Chewy. They weren’t even for us. 

I bristled at the prospect of trying to untangle the delivery service’s mistake. I had calls to return and a deadline to meet. I dragged the packages inside. Sooner or later, someone would figure out the problem. As I started up the stairs to work, a little voice in my head said, “Do unto others . . .” 

I ignored the nudge but not for long. I couldn’t concentrate with those boxes downstairs. What if their contents were urgent? Finally, I examined the address. It was for a woman who was staying at an inn two towns over. She’d gotten the zip code wrong. How the delivery service had messed up, I couldn’t tell you. 

I called the inn, and they agreed to give the guest my number. The next morning, Gracie and I stood at the window, my dog erupting with a woof as the woman drove up our driveway to collect the boxes that I left outside for her. She had been quite relieved to hear from me. I was relieved too. 

A few hours later, Gracie leapt off the couch and ran to the window. It was her Chewy box, right on time.