“You know, like it just seems like I can’t go one more step!  I’m like dying of thirst!” Running Chairs complained to Elizabeth as they stopped to catch their breath from running at the school playground.  “Like, this is too much work!  This is NOT, like fun!”

“Running Chairs!” said Elizabeth.  “We are getting in shape for gym class!  School starts tomorrow.  And you know that life is not always fun.”

“But I WANT it to be all fun!  Like when my family went to Disney World, like you know, in Florida, this summer on July 19 thru 27.   Like THAT was fun!  Like we went on ALL the attractions, like you know and there was lots of sun and it hardly ever rained and we just ate whenever we felt like it.  Why can’t life be, you know, always like a vacation?”

“But in REAL life, there is suffering.” said Elizabeth.

“Well, yeah, like when we had to wait in line at the Space Mountain, like THAT was 45 minutes of waiting and BELIEVE ME,  THAT was suffering!” fussed Running Chairs.

“No, that was not suffering.  Suffering is what happens to some of the people I saw this summer in Tanzania, when I went to visit my cousin Martin.” said Elizabeth.

“Oh yeah, like you said they are hungry.  Well, WE were hungry too, before we ate at the Rain Forest Cafe.  But I guess THEY don’t HAVE a, like, you know, Rain Forest Cafes to eat at.  Maybe your father should have built a Rain Forest Cafe instead of a new water system.”

“No, Running Chairs.  They need water more than they need a Rain Forest Cafe.  And remember that woman I told you about on the airplane?”

“Oh, yeah, like you said her baby was, like sick or something?  And the passengers were being mean to her because of a mistake on her, like ticket.”

“Yes.  I think SHE was suffering and so was her baby.  I feel so sad when I remember her. And I feel angry at the other people for being so mean to her.  I would be happy if her baby gets better.”

“I guess it is like, you know, like we should be sad with the sad, like, people and be, like, you know, happy with the happy . . . . people, or giraffes or bears or potatoes or whatever like?”

Elizabeth said “I think you are right.”

Romans 12: 15 says “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”  We must do every thing we can to help the people who are suffering.  But sometimes the best we can do is to sit beside them and cry with them.  Our job is not to be mean spirited and unkind.  We are to live in harmony and live in peace and to extend hospitality to strangers. 

When Jesus suffered on the cross and died, HE did not show anger.  He showed love and forgiveness.  That is exactly what WE are to do when we encounter suffering.

THE END

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