As I walked along the trail, I saw a child up ahead.
Not of school-age, she screamed and jumped up and down in place. Her dad stood on the trail at the bottom of the hill holding both of their bikes, unsure what to do as he watched her cry hysterically.
As I approached, I gently asked, “Do you need help?”
She nodded.
“What is it you dislike?” I asked.
“Ants!” she said, pointing to the ground where we stood.
Right where she pointed, I saw seven or eight ants crawling on one side of the sidewalk. Although harmless, they terrified her.
“I will walk between you and the ants,” I said. “If one comes near you, I will step on it. Okay?”
She whispered, “Okay.”
We walked together by the insects, as I protected her by walking between her and the ants. After passing them, she ran to her dad.
He called to me, “Thank you!”
The little girl had stopped in her tracks, unable to face the perceived danger alone. An act of kindness from a passer-by allowed her to continue along the trail.
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul referenced doing small acts of love. God loved people so much that he sent his Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. And having shown this kind of love, Jesus calls his followers to love others in the same way.
We can show love by showing up with groceries, offering to listen, writing a thank-you note, and embracing a loved one with a warm hug. Sometimes, such acts are as small as walking between a child and ants. With God’s Spirit living within us, we carry out the greatest command and serve one another in love.
In what way has God called you to love your neighbor today?
Tweetable: Are you being neighborly?
Thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines.
No comments:
Post a Comment