Spare a thought for ‘a friend in need’ this Easter
By ALISON ANIS
I WAS about to bite into the piece of delicious chicken I bought together with a plate and rice and a bottle of coke at a kai bar when I noticed the small pale face pressed firmly against the windowpane.
He was staring right at me, his eyes fixed on the piece of chicken held inches away from my mouth.
I saw the hunger in his eyes and his throat twitched as he swallowed his saliva.
When I was a child, my parents taught me that it was rude to stare at people while they were eating and rude to go into a neighbours house when they were having a meal or about to have a meal.
This little boy obviously was not taught likewise. He looked as though he had grown up on the streets, with no parental love and guidance.
He looked starved, his small figure lost in an oversized, worn-out T-Shirt he was wearing.
He didn’t care what reactions he would get from his continuous stares, he only hoped his stares would result in someone giving him leftovers to satisfy his hunger.
Someone who had finished his meal walked outside, stopped at the doorway and said something to the little boy, who turned and hurried away.
As soon as the man left, the little boy was back again, staring in through the window.
I tried to ignore his stares and concentrate on my meal. The chicken was dipped in black sauce, it tasted delicious. The last thing I wanted was to be disturbed.
As a savoured each mouthful a thought crossed my mind.
It was a question that challenged me most but one that was totally unexpected too. “Would someone like me, struggling everyday to be a follower of Christ, care to give half of my meal to the small ‘not so privileged’ boy outside, no matter how much I wanted to finish it off myself?”
Another question came “Would I at least do it for the love of Jesus Christ whom I refer to as my Master?”
This was of course a real test for me but then I thought of how I mentioned in my daily journal that morning to perform at least an act of love for Him that day.
It could have been a reminder from the Lord. This immediately prompted me to stop eating, close the lunch box with my half-finished meal inside, determined to give it to small boy outside.
I noticed that everyone around me was busy eating, nobody took any notice of the small boy outside. Or it could be that they saw him but ignored him.
I walked outside, stood well out of sight of everyone and called the boy over. At first he looked around not sure whether I was calling him. I motioned again and he moved reluctantly towards me. I handed him the plastic with lunch box in it and my half bottle of coke. No words were said as this sign of love transpired between us.
Perhaps this was for me a lesson of love since I asked for it but let it also be a lesson for whoever is reading this especially at this time of Easter.
Jesus gave up his life freely for humankind because of his unconditional and undying love.
It was also because of the love of the Father who gave up his only Son, whose death we will be reflecting on and his victory into resurrection we will rejoice about this Easter weekend.
We may not repay him in full for what he did for us but little acts of love in life such as sharing a meal or drink with a stranger who is not so privileged this Easter season is perhaps what will please him most.
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