The unnerving cry said, “I’m scared.”
Working inside a post office for years, I’ve learned to tell if a child is crying because they are tired, hurt, or just plain mad.
On this day, I was in the mall. This cry sounded like fear. My trained ear knew this child was not just pitching a fit. Hearing the desperate plea in that setting was chilling. I looked up from the shoes I browsed to investigate.
A mother leaned over the top of her twin stroller and peered down the escalator at her two-year-old son who had ridden to the bottom. Both twins cried while Mom tried to figure out what to do.
She could leave the child at the top and sprint down to scoop up little brother or try to maneuver the double-wide stroller down the escalator. Neither option seemed without flaw. Hearing not one but two upset tots screaming in a public place is not a recipe for calm rational thinking.
For a split second, I thought, Stay out of this. I was not the only one watching this play out, and no one else moved to help. But my heart said, Just go stand with that little boy till his mom gets there. I did. I stood by him and held his hand while he watched his mom come to the rescue. The one he trusted was on the way, and his little pounding heart slowed as she came closer.
The whole fiasco was over in moments. But the relationship between myself and this young mother had just begun. As she moved closer, we both recognized each other. We lived in the same tiny community of about 200 people, but on this day, we were both in Austin, TX, at a large mall.
Someone else could have helped her that day. I am happy my heart recognized the opportunity. When we accept the challenge to do good, we look more like Jesus. And that’s a good look for anyone.
Ask God to help you see opportunities to do good for others.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
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Joni Topper has been a pastor’s wife for twenty-five years. She is also a grandmother, teacher, women’s ministry leader, worship leader, accompanist, and vocalist. Her favorite description of herself is “one who desires to look like Jesus.”