“Love
each other with genuine affection; outdo one another in showing respect." ~ Romans
12:10
Pastor Carolyn was in a slump; a
sermon writer’s block. It always seemed
to happen around this time of year. Maybe
it’s a letdown from the challenge of preparing Christmas homilies; or perhaps just
a mental vacation before Easter.
Although creativity comes in spurts, Sundays come with great
regularity. She stared at a blank tablet
praying for a little Divine inspiration.
Preaching well is hard work.
Ministers are expected to be witty, warm, and wise . . . every Sunday. All preachers experience this occasionally - trying
to come up with yet another message to inspire, reassure or challenge the loyal
congregants who so faithfully fill the pews each weekend.
Valentine’s Day is Sunday, but that whole love thing is so
clichéd, she thought. Maybe I’ll speak
about friendship; God’s ‘bonus’ to humanity by encouraging one another in pursuing
His Kingdom. And so the process began.
Sunday arrived. Carolyn’s
sermon still needed work. It seemed
disjointed; even incoherent. Hopefully
God can make some good of this one, she prayed.
Before the sermon, it was customary to gather children to
the altar for some “Small Talk.” She’d
explain the upcoming message in terms little ones could understand.
Once they were all fitfully assembled, she asked one simple
question: “What does ‘friendship’ mean?”
The answers she got were broader and deeper than anyone could have
imagined.
"Friends make you smile when you're sad," little Terri
(age 4) answered.
"During my piano recital,” Tyrone
(8) shared “I was so scared. All those
people were watching me. My friend Javier
waved and smiled. He was the only one
doing that. I wasn't scared
anymore."
Not to be outdone, Andie (5) added, “Friends give friends
the biggest piece of cake."
The youngest of 4, Sanjay (6) rarely got a chance to talk. This one wouldn’t slip by. "My older brother loves me ‘cause he
gives me all his old toys and then has to go out and buy new ones."
Mia (3) added, "Chloe is my best friend, I tell her
that a lot so she won’t forget.”
Finally Nicholas (7) summed it up best. “If you want to learn to love better, you
should start with someone who you don’t like."
Pastor Carolyn sat dumbstruck. Such wisdom . . . such intelligence . . .
such compassion. She closed with a
prayer before excusing them to their Sunday School classes.
Standing before the congregation, she said: “I can’t
possibly say it better than these blessed children just did! Go out and make a new friend today, or draw
an old friend even closer.”
And ended the service right then with this benediction:
Lord Jesus, You’ve blessed us with the gift of
friendship, the bonding of persons in a circle of love. Thank You for friends who love us, who share
our sorrows, who laugh with us in celebration, who bear our pain, who need us
as we need them. Bless our friends with
health, wholeness, life, and love. Amen.
