The Leash

The mother sounded so rushed.
You could tell she was in a hurry.
Come on…let’s go…we have to pick up…
There were many things on her “to do” list.

She was not on the same aisle as me, but she was close by.
I wondered how she was ever going to get everything done.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her…still talking about the rest of her day.
I still did not see the person she was talking to.

Suddenly, I saw her go by me…in a blur.
She turned to go down the next aisle.
There was a cord behind her with a child attached to it.
As she hurried, the cord got caught on the corner of a display unit.

She walked on…but the child was stuck.
She was pulled back, since she could go no further.
She got annoyed at her child.

Out of nowhere, a kind, elderly gentleman stepped forward.
He quietly unhooked the child who was crying at this point.
The mother was still not very happy with her child.

It was not his fault, ma’am…the cord got stuck.
I don’t think you realized that.
But now that you do…holding his hand would be so much better.

His soft, gentle words diffused the situation.
I heard her explain that it was called a child leash…so he wouldn’t get lost…
Even to her…the explanation sounded absurd.
She fumbled at the hook, trying to unfasten it.
He helped her roll it up.
She smiled a small smile and took her child’s hand.

Years ago, what this man did would have been the norm.
Most people lived in neighborhoods where everyone knew each other.
Children could go outside and always find someone to play with.
Mothers did not do the amount of driving that seems expected of them now.
There was not a plethora of activities to pursue.

If you misbehaved you knew that Mrs. So and So would tell your mother.
People seemed to get involved in each others lives…and that was accepted.
Everyone looked out for each other.

This kind man was not being a busy body.
He helped a child out of a situation and calmly helped a Mom see another way.

What I appreciated so much about this man was the way he went about it.
He gently held out a better way…without putting the Mom down…without judging her.
He was never condescending.
Yet, his sweet words had power behind them.

Since that episode, I have noticed many Moms who are not having a good day.
Most often, it is usually in the grocery store.
The children are tired and irritable.
The Mom is at her wits end.

I have tried to follow that gentle man’s example.
Most times, I will smile at her, if we meet eyes…then smile at the children.
I try to encourage her in the brief time I am given.
You are doing the most important job you will ever do…You’re doing just fine.

You cannot imagine how those few words speak to a young mother’s heart.
I am grateful for the gentle example the man provided…without even knowing it.

We have another example to follow…a perfect one.

Jesus was tired from His journey, and so He sat down by Jacob’s well.
His disciples went into town to buy food.
A Samaritan woman came to draw water at the well in the middle of the day.

It was unheard of for Jews and Samaritans to associate with one another.
It was even more surprising for a man to be talking to a woman.

Jesus asked her for a drink.
He had nothing to draw water with, and the well was deep.
He told her about living water.
After drinking it, she will never be thirsty again.
She wanted to know where she could get some of this living water.

Jesus told her to call her husband, but she told Him that she had no husband.
Jesus was pleased with her response, and told her that in fact she had five husbands, and the man she is now with, is not her husband.

Amazed, the woman called Jesus a prophet, but then added that she knows that when Messiah comes, He will explain everything.

Jesus declared, I who speak to you am He. (John 4:26)

The woman goes back to town, after leaving her water jar, and tells the people,
Come see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?
(John 4:29)

Many of the Samaritans in that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony, He told me everything I ever did. (John 4:39)

Jesus handled this woman perfectly.
He didn’t sugar coat her life style.
He didn’t mince words.

The world would have confronted her…cut her down to size.
Yet…she left Jesus’ presence with her dignity.
Jesus had a way of confronting…with grace.
Always grace.

The gentle man in the store did the same.
He spoke truth…but he showed grace.

Oh, Lord Jesus…help me do the same.