Jesus said, “Accepting a messenger of God is as good as being God’s messenger. Accepting someone’s help is as good as giving someone help. This is a large work I’ve called you into, but don’t be overwhelmed by it. It’s best to start small. Give a cup of cold water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won’t lose out on a thing”. (Matthew 10: 41 – 42)

A doctor called his patient, a mother-to-be, at work to tell her the test results. In shock, the woman hung up the phone with a barely audible, “Thank you, Doctor”.

A co-worker walked into her office then immediately asked, “What’s wrong?” “Oh, Di,” the woman cried into here friend’s shoulder, “my baby has Down’s”. Dianne comforted her friend for several minutes and then urged her to go home to her husband. “OK,” the woman said through her tears, but instead she walked out of her office and went straight to the nearest church. She sobbed for 45 minutes until a homeless person patted her on the shoulder and assured her: “Jesus loves you”.

She mustered a smile. “Don’t you see,” she thought, “it’s not that I’m doubting Jesus’ love; I’m doubting my courage to accept this fate with grace”.

As the weeks of her pregnancy progressed, she and her husband took turns being the sad or strong one. They were not perfect people by any stretch of the imagination, but they remained steadfast in their desire to play the hand they were dealt and trust in God to see them through as they offered the cup of life to one of God’s little ones.

Now they spend their days reaping their rewards, just as Jesus promised.