July 25, 2005

[Rev. Doc]

They Need You

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Colossians 3:12

Patrick Bouvier Kennedy was born prematurely on August 7, 1963. His father, President John F. Kennedy, knew his second son's chances of survival were slim. Young Patrick had a lung ailment and he was rushed by ambulance to Children's Medical Center in Boston. The President visited the hospital four times a day worrying about his wife Jackie while being concerned about the baby as well.

On the night of August 8, Kennedy decided to sleep at the hospital to be near the baby. Around two o'clock in the morning, the President was awaken and told that Patrick's condition was taking a bad turn. As the President was waiting for the elevator, he saw a baby boy in a room that was badly burned. He asked the night nurse how it happened, and how many times the mother came to see the baby. The nurse answered "everyday." He then asked for her name and while his own son was down stairs dying, the President stopped to write a note to the lady telling her not to give up faith, and to keep up her courage.

Then for the next two hours, the President kept a lonely vigil over his son until he died and then Kennedy wept.

In our most difficult hours we may be called upon to express compassion to those around us. Never miss an opportunity to allow God's love to flow through you to the lives of others.

Prayer: Ask the Spirit to help you be sensitive to the needs around you.

"If you live in a graveyard too long you stop crying when someone dies."
~Anonymous