Can we be like Jesus?

By: Janet Perez Eckles

This anonymous story resonated with me. Traveling alone with just my white cane, similar things have happened to me.

A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. They had assured their wives they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night’s dinner. In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of them inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach their departing gate.

But one paused, took a deep breath and had a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.

He told his buddies to go on without him and returned to the terminal where the apples were spread on the floor.

He was glad he did. The 16-year-old girl was totally blind. She was softly crying with tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her.

The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display.’

“I hope we didn’t spoil your day too badly,” he said.

As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, “Mister….” He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes.

She continued, “Are you Jesus?””

He stopped in mid-stride and wondered. He gently went back and said, “No, I am nothing like Jesus—He is good, kind, caring, loving, and would never have bumped into your display in the first place.””

The girl nodded: “I only asked because I prayed for Jesus to help me gather the apples. He sent you to help me, so you are like Him…”

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us…” (Ephesians 5:1).

Father thank you for giving me eyes through my blindness to see who you are, how you love and when you come to our aid. When apples of sadness spill, you will gather them to bring back the joy you promised. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Janet

About these ads