Prepared for Many, Praising the Few

Yay. Last laser treatment for a month. Honeybun and I are both thrilled. We had our celebratory chicken nuggets as we drove the hour home, and then I unloaded my dog and loaded my teen. Asherel had her monthly art teaching ministry at the nearby nursing home. The activity director was gone that day, but had assured us the staff would gather our class to be ready for us at 3:00.

We walked into the activity room and only two residents were there.
"I am highly disappointed in the others," said Joe, "Here you provide a wonderful and interesting activity and no one shows up."
"I know the Activity Director is out today," I said, "Normally she gathers everyone."
"Still," said Joe, "Paul and I were just discussing what a shame it is."
Paul nodded.
"Well then you two lucky gentlemen get a private class!" I said.

So Asherel taught the two elderly men how to draw a monkey.
"What do you think?" I asked when the class ended.
"It isn't as perfect as I would like," said Joe, "But you can tell it is a monkey."
"Is it better than you would have done on your own?" I asked.
"Oh yes!" laughed Paul and Joe together.
"Then we reached our goal," I said, smiling at Asherel.

Asherel didn't appear to be disappointed. She taught as expertly for the two as she does when the class is overflowing. The numbers one reaches may not always be the goal. Sometimes our sphere of influence is very small, and I think that we are called to minister to whomever God sends our way, whether they fill half the world, half the room, or half the card table. Remember, God assured Abraham that even if ten righteous people could be found in the teeming population of Gomorrah, He would not destroy the city. And Jesus later tells us that God desires not a single one of His children to perish. Every human being matters in God's eyes.

As we packed up our art supplies to leave, the men thanked us heartily.
"We really appreciate you coming out here! You should be paid $10 for everyone who didn't show up!" said Joe.
I laughed, but thought how glad I was for the two who had.

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"What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish. (Matthew 18:12-14 NASB)




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