Hashtag Blessed

He was dressed in a sky blue shirt and dark blue suit that complemented his warm brown eyes, standing outside after church talking to a friend. When the little tyke stumbled on the step nearly as tall as she when hurrying by, he quickly reached for her hand and steadied her. She smiled shyly, studying the next step, and he held her hand until she'd reached the last one and could toddle off to her mother.

That afternoon, though it was technically his day off, he went to visit a refugee family living in a small apartment, 8 of them crammed into a 2-bedroom place with peeling paint on the ceilings, black mold insistent on growing anytime it rained, and furniture limited to beds for the grandparents while the rest managed on sagging mattresses or on the third-hand sofa that sat with mismatched chairs in the living room. Yet, in spite of their distressful situation, they still produced a beautiful tray with four bone china coffee cups thick with Turkish grounds.

He politely took a sip, as they spoke from their heart. Papers had come through and half the family was relocating to Sweden while the other half was going to the USA. They were excited of the hope of a new life but sad because these were the last days they had together as a whole family. Soon they would be separated by thousands of miles of ocean that would be too expensive to cross for perhaps years. Thank God for WhatsApp video chat, they all agreed. He listened quietly, gently encouraging them to see the joy ahead.

His phone lit up, someone wasn't feeling well, could he come and pray with them? He turned the car around and instead of heading for home, he expertly navigated the angular side streets, searching for the address they'd sent him. Finally he found the apartment complex, stepped into the cubicle lift, and pressed the 3rd floor button. When they opened the door, he quickly assessed the man needed medical help. Two family members came along, supporting the man who was pale and not doing well. Then the search began for a hospital that would treat the patient who clearly was a refugee.

Finally, three hours later, a friendly Christian hospital welcomed them in. After filling out several forms and waiting in the lobby for nearly an hour, the nurse called the man and the family members followed where the man was settled in a hospital bed and an earnest prayer was sent up. The nurse promised to call if anything else was needed and he left. He slipped into his car, plugged in his dead phone to the car charger, and waited for it to light up with messages. One name brought a smile to his face, even as he felt a twinge of sadness that he hadn't been able to reply sooner. He sent a quick answer and started the car. Juice?