Who Is Slipping Through the Cracks Around You?
Clutching her Bible tightly to her chest, Sherry approached the front door of Westbrook Bible Church.
Heart pounding, Sherry slipped quietly into the back pew. Sitting among so many families only reminded her of how alone she was.
After moving to a new town, she felt disheartened. She had spent the last three weeks building the courage to attend a church.
Having recently been divorced by an alcoholic husband, the thought of anyone discovering her past made her unsure of how she was going to make new friends.
Immediately following the service, she walked around a group of teens, visiting and laughing. For a split second, she wondered if they might be laughing at her. Maybe she looked as out of place as she felt. Her feet were moving quickly as she managed to leave without making eye contact.
In spite of her apprehension, she returned the following Sunday and found the same spot in the back.
A couple, who were seated at the front the week before, greeted her with a smile and sat in front of her. Before the service began, they turned around, introduced themselves, and made small talk.
For the next several weeks, Martha and Ron continued to sit in front of her. Sherry grew to appreciate the effort they made to leave their normal seats in order to make it more convenient to talk with her. Their simple act of kindness warmed her heart.
They invited her to lunch, and despite her reluctance to let others in, Sherry eventually grew to trust her new friends with her difficult life story.
Fond memories of Martha and Ron, who had since passed away, resurfaced years later when Sherry moved out of her regular seat to sit in front of a mother with two children on their first visit.
If we are not careful, we can easily miss those people who would otherwise “slip through the cracks.” They are everywhere: in our churches, workplaces, schools, social groups, and yes, even in our families.
“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3–4 (NKJV)
Jesus made a point to love others regardless of their position in society or the status of their problems. Following His example, we can make a conscious effort to reach out with love to those who might otherwise slip through the cracks.
For more on this subject, see Philippians 2:1–11, Romans 12:9–21
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