A lot of kids have impressed me over the years, but no one more than six‑year‑old Jesus Barrera, a little Hispanic boy whose mother is in a wheelchair. This kid is into everything… full of energy… yet always attentive and helpful to his mother whose name is Maria.
You've got to understand that little Jesus stands about as tall as the armrest on his mom’s wheelchair. But as short as he is, it is so cute to watch him reach up to help his mother. I should explain that Maria has function in only one arm.
Jesus pushes his mother's wheelchair... reaches items off the shelf for her... gets the telephone... runs to the mailbox... and puts dishes away. Some kids might drag their feet over such chores; but this little boy has a good heart because he understands how much, how very much his mother needs him. Jesus even feeds his mother (it's hard to handle a banana when you only have one arm).
That's why I’m hoping that the Barrera family can come to our Family Retreat this year. Little Jesus needs to be around other "mother types" in their wheelchairs (it will show him that his mom isn't all that different!). This little boy, I know, will really enjoy connecting with other able‑bodied children his age who help their family members.
Well, Maria and Jesus have applied to go to Retreat this year, but when I looked on their application form, my heart twisted. Because I read on Maria’s form… and I gather it was her scrawled handwriting, she wrote, “I need help with feeding.” Bless her heart, this tells me that Maria doesn’t want to have to depend on her six-year-old to help her the entire time they are at our Retreat. She wants to give her child a break – especially during mealtimes; I think she would appreciate him having lunch and dinner with the other kids.
But! Of course, this means Maria is going to need a volunteer, or, as we call them, “short-term missionaries.” She’s going to need help not only for feeding, but for all the other sorts of things that little Jesus normally does – like pushing his mom’s wheelchair and holding books. It’s funny. We typically think that a Family Retreat is a chance to give mom and dad a break… but with the Barrera family, it’s all about giving a six-year-old child a break!
Praise God for ministry friends who this year will serve as short‑term missionaries to work alongside families like Maria's to attend Retreat. However! For every "Maria and Jesus," there are hundreds of others with needs just as pressing. Would you like to serve with us, helping someone like this little boy and his disabled mom? Then write us today. Because like Proverbs 14:31 says, “Whoever is kind to the needy, honors God.” Friend, if you care about someone like little Jesus and his mommy, that’s you.
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 93176
© Joni and Friends