Here’s a beautiful story I think you’ll enjoy—

Bobby was a special-education boy.  He was just bright enough to remain in a regular classroom but was still noticeably different.  He was the constant butt of jokes by his classmates, but he never seemed to mind.  Every day, as the neighborhood kids walked home from school, Bobby’s mother would look out the window to see them all laughing and joking together —all except Bobby.  He was always walking behind the others, all alone.  It was obvious that the other children felt uncomfortable around Bobby and shunned him.

One day Bobby burst into the kitchen after school.  “Mom, guess what?” he said.  “Valentine’s Day is two weeks away, and our teacher said we could make valentines and give them to the other kids in our class!”

His mother’s heart sank as she pictured yet another opportunity for Bobby to be excluded.  “Mom,” Bobby continued, “I’m going to make valentines for every person in my class!”

“That’s very nice, Bobby,” his mother answered, fighting back the tears.

Over the next two weeks, Bobby worked every afternoon on those valentines.  They were truly labors of love.  When the big day finally came, he was so excited about taking his valentines to school that he couldn’t eat breakfast.  But he was also a little worried.

“I hope I didn’t forget anybody,” he said as he dashed off to school.

Bobby’s mother made a fresh batch of his favorite cookies and prepared herself to comfort her son when he returned home brokenhearted from the valentine’s exchange.  She knew how  disappointed he would be with the response he got from the other children.

That afternoon she saw the same cluster of neighborhood kids walking home together.  A half block behind them, all alone, was Bobby.  Bobby’s mother turned away and placed a plate of cookies on the table.

Much to her surprise, Bobby came through the door with a huge smile on his face. “What is it, Bobby?” she asked.  “How did it go?”

With a shout of pure joy, Bobby said, “Guess what, Mom!  I didn’t forget a single kid!”

Bobby was so focused on giving that he didn’t consider the response he would get.  He was so concerned about others that he was blind to the fact that he was being slighted.

Jesus gave His life for us knowing that we would not receive Him.  John chapter 1 says, “He was in the world, and yet the world didn’t even notice.  He came to His own people, but they didn’t want Him.”

That’s God’s love for you.  It is unconditional, unselfish, and given with no strings attached.

As we journey together this Lent, let us be intentional about growing in our faith so that at the end of this journey, as we stand face to face with Jesus on a cross, we will understand, perhaps just a little bit more, a love that seeks not for its own reward but for the sake of others.  “For God so loved the world that He gave.”  (John 3:16).  And you know what. . .He didn’t forget a single one of us!

Deep Peace on the Journey!