It occurred to Pooh and Piglet that they hadn’t heard from Eeyore for several days, so they put on their hats and coats and trotted across the Hundred Acre Wood to Eeyore’s stick house. Inside the house was Eeyore.
“Hello Eeyore,” said Pooh.
“Hello Pooh. Hello Piglet,” said Eeyore, in a Glum Sounding Voice.
“We just thought we’d check in on you,” said Piglet, “because we hadn’t heard from you, and so we wanted to know if you were okay.”
Eeyore was silent for a moment. “Am I okay?” he asked, eventually. “Well, I don’t know, to be honest. Are any of us really okay? That’s what I ask myself. All I can tell you, Pooh and Piglet, is that right now I feel really rather Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun To Be Around At All. Which is why I haven’t bothered you. Because you wouldn’t want to waste your time hanging out with someone who is Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun To Be Around At All, would you now.”
Pooh looked and Piglet, and Piglet looked at Pooh, and they both sat down, one on either side of Eeyore in his stick house.
Eeyore looked at them in surprise. “What are you doing?”
“We’re sitting here with you,” said Pooh, “because we are your friends. And true friends don’t care if someone is feeling Sad, or Alone, or Not Much Fun To Be Around At All. True friends are there for you anyway. And so here we are.”
“Oh,” said Eeyore. “Oh.” And the three of them sat there in silence, and while Pooh and Piglet said nothing at all; somehow, almost imperceptibly, Eeyore started to feel a very tiny little bit better.
Because Pooh and Piglet were There. No more; no less.
A.A. Milne
E.H. Shepard
A Ministry of Presence
As I read this common post recently on Facebook, it reminded me of our privilege as individuals to come alongside other people.
Nearly a century ago, Milne and Shepard caught the care, kindness, and significance of authentic friendship.
As followers of Christ, the story of Pooh, Piglet, and Eeyore sounds almost like it could flow out of the Bible somewhere. In reality, it does capture everything that is good about relationships we can have together in Christ. Consider what the Bible recommends us doing on a daily basis:
10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. (Romans 12:10-13)
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:15)
20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. (1 Corinthians 12:20-26, emphasis mine)
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)
Job’s Friends Did Get One Thing Right
When Job’s friends heard of his suffering and pain, they left were they were to go be with him (Job 2:11-13). Each took the time, made the effort, and chose to sit with their friend. They got this part right. As you probably know, the story goes south from here. But for a week, they did exactly what they needed to do.
Pay Attention, Move Toward Others, Serve Them
We can do the same. You can make a dramatic difference in the lives of others. Begin by paying attention. Look around and see people, see their needs, consider their hurts, and determine to move toward them. Maybe it is a smile, a word of kindness, a genuine question, or a heartfelt hug – who knows what may be just the thing that helps your friend?
May we all be Ephesians 4:32 kind of Christians! “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Kind. Tenderhearted. Sharing grace with each other.
Our goal is to be like Christ around others and help point people to Him as we can (2 Cor 5:18-21). We love Christ then choose to love people. The more we love Christ and people, the better we will be with our ministry of presence.
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together
