Two are better than one…If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.

(Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 NIV)

When little Jacob returned to his pre-first grade class after several days away, his teacher welcomed him back. “We missed you!” she said.

Jacob explained his absence: “I had to go to Kansas because my grandpa died, and I had to be at the back and be a polar bear.”

The teacher was puzzled.  Polar bear?  At a funeral?  Later that day, she called Jacob’s mom, who laughed and explained: “Yes, all the grandsons were pallbearers.”

Children often make us smile with their innocent misunderstandings, but they also remind us of deep truths. Jacob thought he was a polar bear, but what he really was — a pallbearer — was someone carrying an important responsibility in love and honor for his grandfather. In his words, we find a picture of what it means to be of service to others.

Ecclesiastes 4 tells us, “Two are better than one…If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”  Solomon wants us to know that life was never meant to be lived alone.  Loss, grief, and hardship can overwhelm us, but when others come alongside, the burden is shared and we are encouraged.

Jacob’s “polar bear” moment is a reminder that even the youngest among us can step into that role.  He may not have understood the title, but Jacob understood the importance of being there with his family.  

Likewise, we don’t always know the perfect words to say or the exact right thing to do, but our presence, our prayers, and our willingness to help carry the load make all the difference in the world to those around us who are in need.

In a sense, we’re are all called to be “polar bears.”  To show up for each other, to carry burdens together, and to remind one another that no one walks through life’s valleys alone.

Prayer: Father, thank you for the gift of community. Help us to walk alongside others, lifting them up when they stumble, sharing the load when life is heavy. May our efforts, whether big or small, show your love and remind others that they are never alone.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Alan Smith
Reprinted with permission from Alan Smith’s Thought For the Day