I am grateful for those people who have translated their religion into more than meetings and preachings. They put it into action. They get into people’s lives – into their space – and they make a difference. And I want to be more like ‘em. Now, along those lines, would you please consider this story?

Margaret opened her eyes to the sound of little Kelly’s crying. Aching muscles and a dull head told her it was not going to be a pleasant day.

“Poor timing for the flu bug to bite,” she thought.

She and her husband were new to the area, and he was away on business – it was just her [she] and the two boys.

Weak and sickly, Margaret forced herself out of bed, and fixed breakfast for her two small sons. The effort brought her to tears. When she was finally able to collapse back into bed, she was shaking with fever and chills. The boys, too young to understand, used Mom for a trampoline and climbed all over her.

By midmorning, a bad situation was worse. One-year-old Kelly began showing the same symptoms as his mother, and was fussy and demanding.

“How can I take care of a sick baby,” she wondered, “when I need someone to take care of me?”

So when a knock sounded at the door, an intense feeling of relief flooded over Margaret – finally, someone to help her. Well, the visitor turned out to be a neighbor, Sister Cook, whom she had met in church the previous Sunday.

“Oh Sister Cook, I’m so glad to see you! I’m not feeling well, and now I think I’ve given it to Kelly too.”

“Oh that’s too bad, dear, I’m sorry to hear that,” Sister Cook said. And then she went right on, “I just came by to ask you to help in my … lesson next week.”

And with that, Sister Cook handed a small sheet of paper to Margaret.

Shocked and disappointed, Margaret took the sheet of paper.

“Thank you so much,” Sister Cook continued happily oblivious, “and now I really must be going. Sister McAllister and I are doing our visiting teaching this morning.”

Numbly and wanting to cry, Margaret closed the door and sank into the couch. Now, she happened to open up the paper and glance at the words that Sister Cook intended to have her teach [read] in her lesson. And the irony of those words melted her to tears and pathetic laughter. What did they say?

Well, it was a scripture. It was the resurrected Lord’s admonition to Peter. It said, “…Feed my sheep.” (John 21:16)