Louder
Than Words
By this all men will know that you are
my disciples, if you love one another.
John 13:35
Carolyn was the school nurse. She was a
wonderful care-giver, outgoing and personable; she also loved Jesus,
and everyone at school knew it. Not because she made a spectacle of
herself or her faith, but because her love and compassion spoke
louder than words.
Exceptionally good with all the
students, Carolyn had a soft spot for the youngest children.
One day the Principle brought an
inconsolable young girl to the clinic. Sobbing, the girl explained to
Carolyn that her father was leaving for Iraq in the morning and due
to circumstances outside her control, she wasn’t going to be able
to say ‘Goodbye’.
Sensitive to the turmoil wrenching at
this little girl’s heart, Carolyn told her, “You know, Jesus can
help you get through this if you ask Him.”
“Really?” the girl asked between
sobs.
Placing her arm around her, Carolyn
said, “All you have to do is tell Him how you feel. You can do that
right now if you want,” she offered.
“I’m not sure how to pray,” came
her timid response.
“Tell you what,” Carolyn said, “you
just start by saying, ‘Dear Jesus’ and then just talk to him. If
you need me to, I’ll be glad to help you pray.”
The little girl folded her hands, bowed
her head, and prayed, “Dear Jesus…” She opened one eye and
looked at Carolyn, and said, “Okay, you can pray now…”
Carolyn smiled, placed her hand over
the little girl’s, and prayed for her Daddy’s protection and safe
return as well as for the little girl.
Encouraged, the little girl headed back
to class, assured that Jesus was going to watch over her Daddy!
†
What
a privilege it is to take someone’s concerns to Jesus, but would
the people who know us bring their hurting hearts to us for care? If
so, would we know how to minister, as Carolyn did, to their pain?
They
would, if they saw Christ's capacity for compassion and love shining
through our eyes. And we wold know how to minister to their pain if
we spent time with Jesus on a regular basis.
Jesus'
love, compassion, and understanding rub off on us when He becomes
more than a casual acquaintance. Just like knowing someone well
enough that you begin to finish their sentences, when we become that
acquainted with Jesus, our actions will speak louder than words.
Prayer
“Dear Jesus…. (Okay,
you can pray now). Amen.”
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