One of the best things to witness is when a community comes together, or when a simple gesture ends up meaning so much.
Approximately a year ago, family and friends painted rocks and placed them in random spots all around the county. There was no deep meaning for this act, it was just to bring a smile to someone’s face. Something simple wound up being so entertaining.
When the COVID quarantine began, stuffed bears started showing up in windows of homes and businesses, in yards and on mailboxes in Marshall County. Many children and adults were on the “Bear Hunt”. It was fun finding and counting the Bears.
There is a Bible story about five friends who take the smallest gesture of friendship and turn it into a mountain of loyalty. One of the friends was paralyzed. Knowing Jesus was close by, these friends put their paralyzed friend on a mat and started their journey to find Jesus.
However, when they found the house that Jesus was at, it was too crowded for them to enter. So, the friends carried their paralyzed friend up on the roof. They began to remove the roof tiles and safely lowered him down on the mat in front of Jesus. Jesus saw the friends’ faith, and He told the paralyzed man his sins were forgiven.
Then, Jesus told him to get up, take his mat and go home. Immediately, the man stood up in front of everyone, he took his mat, went home praising God. Luke 5:17-26.
That is what you call true friendship. They didn’t stop at the first obstacle attempting to get their friend to Jesus. They didn’t stop at the second obstacle when they couldn’t get into the home. Their third obstacle was to get on the roof with their paralyzed friend. Once there, they had a fourth obstacle of removing roof tiles. Then, the most important obstacle to overcome was lowering him down safely on the mat so he would be in front of Jesus.
This Bible passage reminds me of our county. Marshall Countians don’t give up. The saying “Where there’s a will, there’s a way” is so true.
Don’t let obstacles of the day or COVID stop you from being a true friend. AND let someone be a true friend to you. Hope and Faith will prevail. You are an overcomer.