Ding Dong & Dash

A nun walking down the street noticed a young boy on his tiptoes trying to press a doorbell on a house across the street. Although he was trying very hard, he wasn’t tall enough to reach the doorbell.

After watching the boy’s efforts for a moment, the nun walked across the street, up the steps to the porch, and came up behind the little guy, lifted him up a couple of feet. The boy giggled as he gave the bell a solid ring.

Crouching down to the child’s level, she smiled and asked, “And now what, my little man?”

With a mischievous grin, he replied, “Now we run!!!”

Can’t you envision that scene?! Think of the poor woman standing there trying to figure out what she should do as the little giggling boy darted off across the lawn, leaving her on some unknown person’s front porch. I wonder if she ever helped another little boy in similar circumstances.

Have you ever attempted to help someone only to get burned by the person you thought you were helping? As a police officer, my son recounted times when he pulled an abusive husband off of his wife, only to have the woman he freed turn to attack him, “Leave my husband alone!”

In my marriage counseling days, I cannot tell you how many times I gave my time to couples — precious evening time when my kids were young — and ended up having both husband and wife angry at me while defending each other! Sometimes you wonder if it’s worth it to go out of your way to help people.

It was to Jesus. He knew where healing on the Sabbath was going to get him, but He did it anyway. He knew that Judas would betray him, but he trusted him with the disciples’ fund, and washed his feet just hours before the betrayal. Jesus did not help people because of the short-term accolades. He helped people because it was right. Sometimes he was taken advantage of, and sometimes the people he helped turned against him, but he kept on helping. In that light, remember his words…“If you do good only to those who do good to you, is that so wonderful? Even sinners do that much!” (Luke 6:33, NLT).

So next time you are walking down the street and you see a little boy on his tiptoes trying to reach the doorbell, you might want to ask him what he’s up to…but please don’t hesitate to help. Besides, a good game of Ding-Dong and Dash can be fun!