Loving Deeper

Did you know that many people are lonely? Even in the middle of a crowd, or with lots of friends, they still feel lonely inside. Although people are around, no one takes the time to sit and listen or spend time with them.

Jesus tells us we should care for others. And we do! We give them food. We share clothes that don’t fit anymore. But maybe Jesus is asking us to do more. Maybe Jesus wants us not only to help people, but also to show them that we care by doing a little more.

Douglas Maurer, 15, was diagnosed with leukemia, a kind of cancer. His doctors explained the disease to him and told him that he would need three years of chemotherapy. They said that he would lose his hair and that his body would swell up, but they thought they could stop the cancer. But Douglas knew what they weren’t saying. He could also die. This made Douglas sad, and it seemed that no one could cheer him up.

His aunt heard about his sadness and called a flower shop. She wanted to send flowers since he had just been diagnosed with leukemia. “Please make them bright and cheerful,” she told the clerk.

When the flowers arrived, they were beautiful. Douglas took the flowers and read the card from his aunt. But he did not smile. Then he noticed a second card. Pulling it out, he read: “Douglas, I took your order. I work at Brix Florist. I had leukemia when I was 7 years old. I’m 22 years old now. Good luck. My heart goes out to you. Sincerely, Laura Bradly.”

Douglas’s face lit up for the first time since his diagnosis. For the first time since being in the hospital he was happy. Lots of doctors and nurses had talked to him, but it was a woman in a flower shop who took the time to write a note that made the difference for him.

We can make a difference too. With whom do we sit? Whom can we talk to? Whose stories could we listen to? A friend? A grandparent? A neighbor? Find someone today and make a difference!

This first appeared in KidsView, January 2019.