An Unlikely Choice

Dylan, you taught me a lesson today.  We watched a short skit of Little Red Riding Hood for school.  Afterwards, you were asked to draw a picture of the most important character in the story.  You immediately picked up your crayon and began drawing.  I asked who you were drawing a picture of, and you told me the grandmother.  My heart sank a little.  To be honest, I was discouraged that you didn’t take your time to think it over.  Clearly, other characters stood out more than the grandmother.  I listened as other students mentioned the brave woodsman or the main character herself, Little Red Riding Hood.  Another child mentioned the ferocious wolf.  The grandmother???  She was only seen briefly being put into a closet, just to reappear at the end to hug Little Red Riding Hood.  But I used my most inquisitive, cheerful teacher voice and asked you, “So why do you think the grandmother is the most important character in this story?”  His response was quick and heartfelt, “Because, Mommy, she’s sick.”  Wow!  How the blinders came off my eyes, and my heart humbled by his response.  See, he didn’t need to think it through.  He just knew.  Of course, it was the grandmother.  And I wondered if he chose her because his own grandmother is sick.  And I wondered if he thought about how much he cares for her and the importance his prayers are for her each day.  I’m not really sure.  All I know is he wasn’t looking for the most visible character, the strongest, or the most intimidating.  He picked the character who was sick.  I thought of the passage in Matthew 25:35, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.  I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink.  I was a stranger, and you invited me in.  I needed clothes, and you clothed me.  I was sick, and you looked after me…”  It continues in verse 40, “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me.'”

Dylan, you spoke right to my heart today.  Thank you, sweet boy.  And I am absolutely certain I will never hear the story of Little Red Riding Hood again without thinking of you.