Nearing hysteria, I stood frozen in the aisle. With my energetic two-year-old and newborn, I was walking through the large department store when my two-year-old slipped away without a word and vanished.
At first I was irritated and had my disapproval speech planned for when she came running back, but she was nowhere to be seen. Irritation quickly became panic as I stood there, not knowing what to do. This store had many doors leading into the large shopping mall and parking lot. "What if . . .?" brought me to tears as I strained to see a bright red coat with my blonde pigtailed daughter in it. But I saw nothing except adults who were all going about their business. Can they not see what is going on? How can they be so close and so unaware of my great despair? I wanted to scream. Instead, I began searching in other areas.
RELIEF almost overwhelmed me as I spotted her in the jeans section, quietly pulling off sizing labels. Our reunion and familiar speech over, I clutched her hand. We walked back through the store, past clerks who had been close enough to reach out but who were blind to my need.
I could not blame these women. Indeed, I wondered how many of the people who stood near me that day might have been experiencing great trauma and despair. Am I too busy counting our pennies and wishing a "Good day" to be aware of the great needs of those near me?
If we could only see the world through the Lord's eyes! May He help us to see the distressed and downcast around us and, seeing, offer the loving compassion of the Lord Jesus.
"When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless (MATTHEW 9:36)."
D.S. HAMMER
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