Alone

Over the last few weeks on my drive to work early in the morning I have noticed a little boy standing by himself waiting for the school bus. He must be no older than 7 or 8. Why do I find this disconcerting? It’s because a few steps away there is another group of children waiting for the same bus. They are all laughing and talking together. I find myself wondering, why is this little boy standing all alone? Why is he not with the rest of the kids? He is probably in the same class at school with some of them.

Unfortunately the possible answers to my questions all lead to a negative conclusion and my heart goes out to this little one. But what can I do? I don’t know who he is. I don’t know any of the children. There is one thing I can do, and that one thing I did – I talked to God about him. I talked to the Friend of the friendless, the Father of the fatherless, the One who sees and knows all things. Yes, I prayed for this little boy and I will continue to do so every time I see him or that he comes to mind. I am expecting a good outcome – to see him someday soon talking and laughing with the other children.

Jesus often went out of his way to minister to the lonely, the social outcasts, the ones no one wanted anything to do with. We can think of the woman at the well, the lame, the blind, the lepers, tax collectors, etc.  Jesus saw them all as people of value and definitely worth His time.

Let’s be mindful of those around us. Who needs a smile or a friendly word? Who do you see who is seemingly alone? Who can you share God’s love with today?