Pastor had been traveling and boarded a plan bound for home in Oregon. He took his seat beside the window and pulled out a book he was reading and enjoying very much. His eyes took in the two seats beside him and noted with some degree of selfishness that they were not taken and perhaps he'd be alone and in quiet for the duration of the flight.
Soon, however, a young mother with a young son took those seats and began settling in. The little boy turned and looked at Pastor with a huge smile. How could you turn away? Fairly soon it was acknowledged that said little boy was three years old and named Nathan. Nathan immediately took up with our pastor and began chattering away. Not too long into the conversation, Nathan announced to our pastor, "We aren't strangers any more. I love you!" The innocence and unconditional love that children possess was evidenced in Nathan's bold and honest statement.
Eventually Nathan managed to get out of his seat belt and climbed into our pastor's lap. Not being strangers makes everything much more comfortable. And adding love to that recipe is the ultimate in outreach and spreading God's love!
Young Nathan is an example to all of us! Let's see if we can't be less like strangers and more like people in love with each other this week.
"Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other." John 13:33-35 (The Message)
What a precious story, I love it "we aren't strangers anymore!" It sounds like my children, they don't know any strangers, everyone's a friend!
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