Recently, my husband Tim and I were at the doctor’s office. There was a little blue-eyed blond boy sitting in the waiting room. He was about 6 years old. I wondered why he was there alone. Suddenly the door between the waiting room and the examining room flew open. An even smaller, younger boy with exactly the same blond hair and blue eyes came sailing through.
He ran to the first little boy waiting in the chairs. “I have to get a shot!” he said, as tears welled up in his eyes. They were clearly brothers. As difficult as it must have been, the older boy took the younger into his arms. “Well,” he said. “You’ll be OK. Do you want me to come with you?” The younger one nodded. Holding hands, they started for the door. As soon as it door opened, I saw their mother. She showed no surprise at the way they interacted. The boys relied on one another.
Their relationship made me reflect on some of mine. It takes courage to ask for help. Sometimes it takes great love and understanding to offer it. No one is every really sure how help will be received.
I thought of the time Jesus said that if we want to inherit the kingdom, we have to become like a little child, perhaps like these two boys. Sometimes, we have to be vulnerable and willing to let our fears show. We have to be unafraid to show other people we love them. We have to risk a willingness to help and be helped. We have to walk with people, even into tough situations.
Dear God, help us always to be willing to give and to receive your love, however you send it to us. Amen.
Rev. Dorcas Linger Conrad
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1 comment:
What a beautiful story. It reminded me of the closeness my daughters shared when they were very young. We've become so jaded that we have to be reminded that God designed us to ask for help and respond to another's plea. Thank goodness many in Paris are taking that to heart.
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