I remember a story I heard a while back that still touches my heart each time I think about it. A young boy had developed a friendship with an older couple in his neighborhood. It reminds me of the friendships the children in our neighborhood have with the adults; trusting, nurturing, and engaged. When word that the wife in this couple suddenly died, sadness enveloped the neighborhood.  The husband wasn't seen for a while as his grief was too much to bear. He secluded himself.
 
One day, the boy noticed his neighbor walk out of his house and into his backyard. The boy missed his neighbor and wanted to reconnect and say hello, so over to the neighbor's house he bounded and followed his neighbor into the back yard.
 
After some time, the boy returned home. His mother asked him where he had been and the boy said that he had gone over and visited with his neighbor. "What did you two talk about?" the mother inquired. "Oh we didn't talk that much" the boy replied, "He sat on a bench and cried a lot." Anxiously, the mother asked, "what did you do?" The boy replied, "I sat next to him and cried too."
 
What great faith this young man displayed! The Apostle Paul encourages us to carry each other's burdens and fulfill the law of Christ.   -Galatians 6:2
 
I wonder if he grew up to become a Stephen Minister in his church. If you have a heart for serving God and caring for others, perhaps you have been wondering what it takes to become a Stephen Minister. If so, there will be an Introduction to Stephen Ministry on Saturday, April 18 that you might consider attending. The national office for Stephen Ministry has chosen our neighbors, Johns Creek United Methodist Church as the Atlanta host site for this introduction. If you want to learn more you can contact Roy Davey, Rebecca Eldridge, or myself.
 
Prayer for Today
 
Open our hearts to carry the burdens of those who are burdened, O Lord, so that we will both share our faith with those who are troubled and deepen our faith through sharing our care. Amen.