18 Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the captains, and he said: “We are yours, O David; We are on your side, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, And peace to your helpers! For your God helps you.” 1 Chronicles 12:18 (NKJV)
“Answers for Little Ones Who Are Afraid”
By Bro. John L. Cash, “Country Preacher Dad”
I’m starting a series today. As a country preacher, people often ask me questions they want me to answer. As you might imagine, there are a number of questions brought to my attention time and time again — since as humans, we pretty much share a universal set of problems. A question we all struggle with is this: “Why do bad things happen to good people in God’s world, and how are we to react to and understand these things?”
I don’t pretend to have all the answers to these questions, but I do have some thoughts. It will take me several Sunday columns to tell you what I’m thinking—but I hope you don’t mind me sharing.
Are your children ever upset by things that they see on the evening news? My sons were little boys in grade school on 9/11. Even though Seth was in kindergarten and Spencer was in 4th grade, they both still remember that day. I was frightened at that day’s events as an adult, so I can only imagine how little children felt. I can’t help but think that children today are upset as they see the scenes of the tragedy unfolding in Haiti — because we adults are feeling the same thing.
What should you tell your children when they see films of a terrible situation on the news? The best answer I have ever found is in a quote by the late Fred Rogers, of Mister Rogers Neighborhood:
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of “disaster,” I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers — so many caring people in this world.” – Fred Rogers
That quote brings me comfort and strength because it’s the absolute truth. Whenever you see tragedy, or suffering, or pain, there are always helpers there. Teach your babies to look for the helpers.
And we should extend that lesson a little further. Not only should we look for the helpers, we should strive to BE one of the helpers. It is for this reason that God has made us, and He sent Jesus to set the example of service for us. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45). My prayer for you today comes from the Scripture lesson (at the top): “Peace, peace to you, And peace to your helpers! For your God helps you.” Have a blessed week.
Dr. John L. Cash is the “Country Preacher Dad” He was raised in Stuttgart, Arkansas, and is in the middle of his 25th year of being a country preacher in the piney woods five miles south of the little town of Hickory, Mississippi. He and his lovely wife, Susan, and his sons, Spencer (age 18) and Seth (age 15) live in the parsonage next door to the Antioch Christian Church (where the Cashes met LOTS of helpers after their area got hit by Hurricane Katrina). You should write him at extramailbox@juno.com. Or click the comment button below to share a thought.
