Children's Corner: "They're with Me!"

By a missionary in South Asia

Reuben and Milo were as grubby as the other children who live on the streets. Usually, when I saw them, they were helping their mother pound bricks into gravel, a job that paid only 50 cents per day. One day, I asked Reuben and Milo if they wanted to ride with me to the store. We piled onto a rickshaw and rode the short distance to a dokan (side-of-the-road store) to buy juice for them and powdered milk for their baby sister.

When we clambered down from the rickshaw, the store manager began beating Reuben and Milo to chase them outside. I had forgotten that street children and beggars were not allowed in stores. Anger filled me. I pulled little Milo to my side, and said, "Stop! They are here with me."

The manager knew that he couldn't make them leave if they were with me. Grumbling a little, he sat down. I turned to look for Reuben, who had run away, and now stood outside the store where he knew his "station" required him to be. Milo , however, clung to me, relishing his newfound freedom.

I called to Reuben, "Come in. It's okay. You are with me." But Reuben shuffled his feet, darted a look at the glowering store manager, and shook his head. He believed the man would beat him again, even though Milo was happily inside, drinking a mango juice.

What Can We Learn?

What do you think we can learn from Reuben and Milo about fear? When we trust in Jesus to protect us, like Milo trusts in the missionary, God can show us His love. But when we are like Reuben, scared of dangers even though God promises to protect us, we miss out on the good things God has for us.

We don't deserve to get into heaven. But Jesus walks in with us, holding us by his side, even if we have dirty feet or we're poor. He stops Satan from hurting us by saying, "They're with Me." Nothing can hurt us then! Jesus is bigger than our fear.

I was so happy to help Milo enter the shop. I was sad, though, that Reuben wouldn't believe that he would be safe with me. These two boys show us what Jesus might feel when He looks down on earth: joy for the people who trust Him and enjoy His gifts, and sadness for the people who won't accept Him.