“I tried to make him happy.”
My son-in-law left with two of their kids for ball practice, which gave my daughter some one-on-one time with their youngest, Luke. As the two ate dinner, Luke shared his day at daycare. At first he was filled with laughter and smiles. Then he paused, grew quiet, and began to cry. Alarmed, my daughter asked what was wrong. He related how his friend, Brody, had been sad that afternoon.
“I found his favorite toy and played with him. And the other day at school, a boy was sad because no one shared the ball with him at recess. So the next time I caught the ball, I threw it to him.”
“Luke, you did the right thing. You found a way to make the boys feel as if they had a friend. Sometimes you’ll see sadness in people, and you may not be able to fix it. That’s okay, but you can always pray for those who are sad.”
When my daughter tucked her youngest into bed that night, she listened to his bedtime prayer. Luke asked God to help those two boys not be sad anymore and to help sad people everywhere. My daughter added her own prayer that God would help Luke remain aware of those around him, tender to their needs, and willing to intervene as he is able.
Christ lived a life that demonstrated not only His holiness but also His love and concern for humanity’s needs. Paul taught Timothy the importance of prayer for others and also left a reminder for us.
Take a moment and examine your life. Ask God to help you stay alert to those around you. Pray for people to see God, help them when you can, and be thankful for any opportunities God gives you.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
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Kathy Boyd Thompson is a retired special education teacher. She and her husband, Byron, live in Convoy, Ohio, and have four adult children and several grandchildren. She was a 2016 winner of Guideposts Writer’s Workshop and is now a contributing writer for them. She loves to see God’s Word evidenced in everyday life.