Meeting a Need

While taking care of two of my grandsons last week, I was blessed to observe the 21-month-old react to having a new baby brother.

While he was uncertain at first, he showed a servant’s heart within a few hours after the baby came home. His dad (my son) was putting the baby in the crib and asked his wife if the baby needed a blanket.

Next thing we knew, big brother had gone to his room, retrieved his own blanket and stuffed toy—his bedtime favorites—and carried them to the baby’s room, where he put them in the crib. He was willing to give up—at least for a short while—things that are precious to him in order to help his brother.

I pray that his willingness and desire to meet the needs of others will grow as he matures.

Jesus told His disciples that serving others will be rewarded one day: “‘I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me’ (Matthew 25:35-40, NIV).”

Most of the time, I am unwilling to give up my own convenience, much less my most treasured possessions, to help someone in need. But watching my young grandson do so has increased my own desire to make sacrifices to meet the needs of the “least of these,” in order to serve the King of Kings.