The Apples of Sadness

In the craziness of life, who has time to worry about other's problems? We have our own to keep us awake at night.

Do you agree, dear friend? Lately, life is rolling way too fast with issues, unresolved conflicts and gloom that won't go away.

So, facing all this, you hear you need to be good, love your neighbor, serve God and grow spiritually, what is your answer?

Mine is a profound, "Really?"

But here's a story that changed this chica's attitude. The story is anonymous, yet touched my heart because when I travel alone with my white cane, similar things have happened to me:

A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. They had assured their wives they would be home in time for Friday night's dinner. In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of them inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach their departing gate.

But one paused, took a deep breath and had a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned. He told his buddies to go on without him and returned to the terminal where the apples were spread on the floor.

He was glad he did. The 16-year-old girl was totally blind. She cried softly in frustration, and at the same time, helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her. The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display.

"I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly," he said.

As he walked away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, "Mister!" He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes.

She continued, "Are you Jesus?"

He stopped in mid-stride and wondered. He gently went back and said, "No, I am nothing like Jesus. He is good, kind, caring, loving, and would never have bumped into your display in the first place."

The girl nodded: "I only asked because I prayed for Jesus to help me gather the apples. He sent you to help me, so you are like Him!"

I know exactly what she's saying. Each time an arm is extended to help me navigate a busy airport, each time a hand leads me to the nearest ladies room, each time I get an email offering to take me shopping, and each time I hop in the passenger seat while hubby drives me to the umpteenth place. Each of those times, I see Jesus.

So what do I do with that? Maybe I show others how to see a better side of life, or give a smile when they least expect. Or just give a genuine "thank you" for the simplest of things.

That's my new thing now. No matter what tornado of busyness brews around me, or jammed schedule I face, being Jesus isn't a complicated thing.

Rather, being like Him requires the simplicity of love to understand, kindness to share and compassion to take a deep breath, turn back and help others gather their apples of sadness.

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us." (Ephesians 5:1-2)

Janet Eckles

The Apples of Sadness

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