It's Not Convenient, Son

The story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought overseas. He called his parents from San Francisco and said, "I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me."

"Sure," his parents said. "There's something you should know," the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mine and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us."

"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live."

“No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us.”

“Son,” said the father, "someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden. Just come on home. This guy will find a way to live on his own.”

At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, the San Francisco police phoned to say their son died after falling from a building. The police believed it was suicide.

The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco, went to the morgue to identify the body of their son, and to their horror, their son had only one arm and one leg!

This story challenges me! I work here at the Mission on Skid Row, and many homeless friends are disfigured in body or in spirit. Many are filthy or smelly, vulgar or ungrateful. Do I turn them aside because it is “not convenient?”

That’s when I remember that Jesus didn’t think turn aside the 10 lepers, because it wasn’t convenient. He healed all 10 lepers, yet only one returned to thank Him. How dare I think I should be treated better than Jesus?!

Blessings,

Willie L. Jordan

(Mrs. Fred Jordan)