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A year ago when dropping off my youngest nephew at school, I noticed a little boy clinging to his father and near tears.  My heart ached for the terror in the little boy's eyes and I said a prayer for him in that moment.  There was also a little girl hidden behind the leg of the father on the other side.  As the school year went, I continued to pray for this family.  I didn't know them,  I didn't know their story, but I sensed the sadness in this little one.  The father is a big, burly guy with a long goatee and lots of tattoos, but comes across like a giant teddy bear, fiercely shielding his cubs.  As I prayed for this family each day as I saw them in the drop off line, it was often for a good day for the kids and for the little boy especially to find a friend, anyone that could help him pull out of his shyness and sadness.

 Fast forward to today when I got to meet the teddy bear and his cubs officially.

 My nephew needed me to get out and help him with something instead of just him hopping out of the truck and me driving away.  As I finished helping him, I looked up to see the man reaching out his hand to me.  He introduced himself as Zander's dad and shook my hand.  And the story all fell into place.

 Zander is a little boy that Lucas has befriended this year in his class.  A few weeks ago he showed up at the house after school to play with both of the boys and has been a fixture in the house since then.  He's a polite, shy, articulate 4th grader and he and Lucas get along great.  Over dinner one evening, he told my sister that his mother had died, that he has a twin sister and some older siblings, among other things.

 Today, as I met the father (honestly not sure he told me his name and I was so surprised that I forgot to ask), I was struck by how God works.  And how important it is to be sensitive to situations and to the gentle nudge of the Spirit in you.  

 I pray constantly for my nephews and their friendships, Lucas especially as he tends to be shy (shocking, I know!) until he really gets to know someone whereas Logan makes friends much easier.  Little did I know that I wasn't just praying for this family and my nephew separately, but as a whole.  That the Lord was doing something I would not see for a year!  

 I drove away with tears in my eyes and a full heart.  

 I pray we all can stop and see others around us for what they are: children of God, worthy of and desperate for love.  And step as you feel led.  Pray, get involved, do something.  Put down the phone and look into the faces around you.  Slow down on your commute and say a prayer for the stranger standing at the bus stop.  Smile at the drive-thru worker.  We don't have to know what they're going through to extend love, but we can be the extension of God's love to those people.




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