Love Stories
This is a holy, sacred week for Christians and Jews throughout the world. Last Sunday, Christians celebrated Palm Sunday, the day Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. The Passover celebration for Jews begins at sundown on Friday, April 15 this year. Jewish people commemorate the time God began to free His people from slavery. Next Sunday, Christians will observe and remember the bedrock of the Christian faith: the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from His grave. During the week beginning April 15th, Jewish families will gather to share the Seder meal and remember the parting of the Red Sea, God loving act of salvation. Both Christians and Jews believe that God loves humanity with an unconditional love. Thus I share with you two love stories that illustrate this kind of love.
One night at 11:30 P.M., an older African-American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of during those conflict –filled 1960s. The man took her to safety; he helped her get assistance and put her into a taxi cab. She seemed to be in a big hurry, but she wrote down his address and thanked him again and again for his help.
Seven days went by and a knock was heard on the man’s door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached. It read, “Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband’s bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving other. Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.
A hospital volunteer tells this story that happened some years ago during her work in a hospital. A young female patient was a little girl named Liz. Liz suffered from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovering appeared to be a blood transfusion from her five-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness.
The doctor explained the situation to Liz’s little brother, and he asked the boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. The boy hesitated for just moments. Then taking a deep breath, he said, “Yes, I’ll do it if it will save her.”
As the transfusion progressed, the brother lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as did everyone else in the room, seeing the color returning to the girl’s cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, “Will I start to die right away?” Being so young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her life.
May you all have a glorious Easter and/or Passover celebration this week.