God and the Pacifier-Stuffy Combo - June 18

Today’s Reflections: AM Psalm [83] or 34; PM Psalm 85, 86; Num. 12:1-16; Rom. 2:12-24; Matt. 18:10-20

I was walking down Jemison trail last weekend when I came upon something unique. On top of a sign was one of those rememberable pacifiers that have the stuffed animal attached. A person walking that day had likely picked it up and put in a place where the owner’s family might find it again. We had the same special pacifiers when my children were much younger and the general rule of thumb was never leave the house without it. A pacifier can do wonders to soothe a crying a child, but a pacifier with a stuffed animal, it’s the ultimate source of comfort. The feeling of walking by that pacifier-stuffy combo left me with a feeling of dread. What if some poor child is bellowing their heart out and the parents can’t do anything to stop it. I am betting that a few hours later, some poor, worn-out mother or father, would come panting down Jemison trail, exhausted, to have their spirits lifted with this gift in plain sight.

Now that you have this image in your head, imagine the older siblings. They probably want to go get ice cream at Doodles, or a treat from Marble Slab. Their parents promised them this gift after a week of following instructions, saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’, and doing all their chores. But now their morning has been shaken because the parents are on the hunt for the baby’s special binky. This is why older siblings are often so frustrated at their younger counterparts. The party is often ruined just so the youngest can be made whole. “What about everyone else?” cries the older sister.

In today’s Gospel, Matthew’s Gospel addresses a similar dilemma. Jesus says to his disciples, “What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.” I have read this passage being quoted a lot lately when people reference marginalized communities hurting or crying out. Wouldn’t God be seeking them?

I’m an oldest sibling, so the story I have imaged from the beloved pacifier I saw on Saturday, brings back memories, of wanting to keep moving forward, but having to allow my sister to catch up. I wonder how those ninety-nine sheep were feeling. Were they complaining to each other about what should be theirs or what they should do next? Were they frustrated that the shepherd was ignoring them? Did they believe that the shepherd didn’t think they mattered?

Maybe I’m feeling a little guilty. I wish instead of me worrying about the opportunities that I missed, I could have seen the beauty of the care and love and nurture of someone else who needed it more. I saw it when I passed the pacifier, and I wonder where I will see it next.

— John+

Questions for Self-Reflection

• Have there been times where you have been a part of a group and the group couldn’t advance because of someone else? Did an instructor spend too much time with a person who was struggling? What did you feel at the moment?

Daily Reflection

• Find one way of offering a helping hand to someone in need today, specifically something that you haven’t needed help with before.