Let’s just get this out of the way first thing – my confession. Here it is. I really didn’t want to visit my mother Saturday afternoon. There, I said it. She lives in a nursing home walking distance from where I live. We try to stop by a couple of times a week. However, this week, for whatever reason it didn’t happen. So, come Saturday afternoon, the right thing to do was to go see Mom… and I didn’t want to … but I did, being the dutiful son and all. So, instead of washing the cars, I walked to the ‘home.’

I found Mom in the big room in her usual recliner, feet up, deep into an afternoon nap. The warm room was crowded with residents none of whom we’re watching ‘The Lion King’ blasting away from the big screen TV at the end of the room. Sitting next to Mom was Alice, in her wheelchair, chin on her chest, wrapped in a blanket, sleeping. Alice had two black eyes that looked like the black grease a ball player might wear. Mom said that Alice fell out of bed. This was where I learned my least-of-these lesson.

Jesus taught the original least-of-these lessons in a parable in which a group was commended for feeding the hungry, clothing the poor and visiting the imprisoned. Jesus said that when they did these things it was doing it for him. They were surprised to hear that, I think. I get the impression that these folks figured they were just doing what they do.

I think these ‘least-of-these’ moments happen often. It’s not always the big ones of feeding the hungry, clothing the poor and visiting prisoners, either. Every day there are occasions where people, for some reason, are genuinely in need of something – in need of encouragement, kindness, friendship. I’ve been that person … the ‘least.’ In small ways, God’s work of grace and love gets done in significant ways by people putting other’s needs before their own … just doing what they do. No big deal, just taking care of the least-of-these without even realizing it.

So there we were, Mom and I, chatting, the Lion King roaring from the TV, when Alice opened her eyes and cried out, “Evelyn!” And again, “Evelyn!” My Mom reached over, lifted the blanket covering Alice’s arm and gave it a little rub. Mom’s smile and words told Alice that everything was OK. Alice responded with a relieved smile of her own and nodded off again, content.

It was a small thing really. Alice needed a bit of comfort and my mom was there to give it. No one noticed… except me… and Jesus, for whom Mom was doing this without realizing it no doubt… just doing what she does.

I’m here to humbly confess that this was the place I needed to be on Saturday afternoon. I was the needy one that afternoon. God … just doing what he does … taught me an important lesson, this time about the least-of-these. Thanks, God. Thanks, Mom.

Matthew 25:40 – “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'”

Mondays in my classroom are unique. First of all, it’s wall-to-wall Monday. What that means in my teaching world is I have only a few breaks until the end of the day. I’m with students most of the time. Not all bad, but….

It’s also Prayer Request Monday. What I do first thing in the morning is gather from my students prayer items – concerns, things of thanks, things like that. Then we pray. This has been the routine for the year. It flows rather nicely – review the requests then pray and then begin the day… over and over again… until this Monday.

I don’t think anyone noticed, but there was just a small pause before I began praying, a slight hesitation. The first words stuck in my throat. They couldn’t quite make it out. It was like a pause for a punctuation mark at the end of the sentence, except this was at the beginning. I bit my lip and continued, holding back the emotions. I knew before I started that there might be trouble with this prayer this morning.

You see, at our faculty devotions for the week we were given an update on a colleague’s husband who is dying of cancer. Maybe just a few days left. Tough stuff. She and her husband have been on our prayer list all year. So here I am in my class taking prayer requests from students – my babysitter is having a baby soon, my dog might need to be put to sleep, the softball game went well, getting a new dog in July… Piddly stuff really compared to the horror of cancer and watching a loved one slowly, painfully pass from life into glory.

But here’s the catch… in my throat that is. Strangely, to God Almighty, creator of the universe, it’s all important – sick dogs, pregnant babysitters, dying husbands – all of it, nothing piddly about it! That’s what I realized as I began my prayer that morning. God has it covered, big or little… before we even ask… or know how or what to ask.

That was Monday… Wall-to-Wall and Prayer Request Monday. What the Spirit helped me realize once again is that for God it’s Wall-to-Wall Everyday – no breaks from his children. Doing what’s best for us. All good… Thank you, God.

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Philippians 4:6,7 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Friday morning I heard from a friend that the sheep were out! Not escaped ‘out,’ but out it the pasture! So… after school on Friday a decision had to be made. Sit behind my desk and attack the pile of papers that I had collected that day … OR… grab the camera and go. The following photos show what I decided… And there ain’t one picture of a corrected paper, either!

(Click on the individual picture to get the full size version.)