We Can Be the Helpers

Paul: "Why is some people's clothes dirty?"

Me: I knew what he was thinking with this. On Saturday, we went to a party at a church that ministers to refugees from Central Africa. We had the opportunity to sing with, eat with, befriend, and share gifts with a refugee family of three who arrived from the Democratic Republic of Congo seven months ago - exactly the time frame that Paul arrived home. Paul had been exceedingly prepped for this adventure, so while he didn't leave our laps, he was calm and observant and willing to interact. He knew they would speak a language that wasn't English and wasn't Sesotho, and he didn't panic when they began speaking Swahili. By "chance" we sat by "our family's" nine year old boy at the beginning of the party, before we knew he was the boy for whom we'd brought books and legos and clothes. We talked and laughed and he showed off his Spiderman toy.  His pants were much too short and torn, and his coat was dirty. Paul noticed. "Sometimes people don't have enough money for new clothes or they don't have money to wash their clothes very often."

Paul: Clearly considering this. "What they gonna do?"

Me: Still reeling from the tragedy of injustice, pain, poverty. Still wondering myself what they're going to do, what we're going to do. "I don't know, buddy. Maybe people will show them Jesus' love by helping them."

Paul: "Maybe I could give them my dollar. That might help maybe. Or not?"

Me: For the past two months he's been carefully saving his dollars - painstakingly earned by using kind words, obeying, helping -  because he has yet to realize that there will be presents for him this Christmas. Tears. "Yeah, buddy. That would help. You are a great helper."

As I returned to school today, as I sent emails and discussed safety protocol and counseled students and walked the hallways; peering in on classrooms of six year olds, seven year olds, who are blissfully unaware of the threat of evil in the world; and their teachers who sacrificially shield them from such danger, I thought of Mr. Roger's words to look for the helpers.

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother's words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers, so many caring people in this world." --Mr. Rogers

Mister Rogers - photo by Jim Judkis

As expressed by Diane Quigley on facebook, "WE can be the helpers...by creating a fabric of love, generosity, understanding and compassion. Smile and help someone today."

We can be the helpers. The first responders rushing into a building. The teachers standing in the gap for their students. The pastors and counselors and neighbors and volunteers offering prayer and a hug and a listening ear when there are no words. The family sacrificing to sponsor a child they may never meet halfway around the world. The car washes and bake sales and bracelet-making parties to furnish a school, find a cure, fight human trafficking. The stranger offering a smile, offering friendship. The teenager reaching out to the lonely, awkward, misunderstood classmate. The little boy giving up his dollar.

We can be the helpers.