Tip of My Iceberg

Kolly is new to being a big sister. She adores baby Thea, but with new family members come new boundaries. Mom and Dad aren’t as readily available even though they’re just as loving. Kolly isn’t strong enough to pick the baby up on her own, so to get close to her sister means she needs help. When baby needs to be fed, Mom is occupied.

It’s quite a conundrum for someone who is used to being the center of attention.

The cousins stepped in to make Kolly feel special. With magnetic tiles they built her a space that was not only Kolly-sized but Kolly-colorful. While the adults were paying more attention to the baby, these thoughtful cousins made a little girl feel seen.

I’ve always had a penchant for the underdog. I love soccer, but if friends and family are watching any sport, I’ll cheer for the one who is least likely to win. It fascinates me that during March Madness when the whole country is focused on college basketball, there are Cinderella teams that climb the ranks, beating higher rated teams.

We all can appreciate a good Cinderella story, where the overlooked, under-appreciated, ignored person wins, like the US Hockey team beating the USSR in the 1980 Olympics. The Soviets had won the previous four Olympic gold hockey medals and were considered the best in the world. When the Americans won, it set them up for the gold medal match against Finland, which they won.

Movies are made about underdogs. “Rudy” is the story of a working class young man whose dream was to play at Notre Dame, who worked hard to even get to college and managed to play in only one game–where he famously sacked the quarterback of Georgia Tech and was carried from the field in triumph.

Why are we drawn to those who are hurting and less fortunate? I believe God has instilled in us His compassion; our hearts respond like His when we see people hurting.

One of the greatest things Jesus did for people was ignore rank and title. For Him, there were no little people in the world. The marginalized were the ones He often focused on–women in general, who were typically not respected, widows, who had no social value, children, who offered no value to the community, lepers, prostitutes, and the like.

There was a time when Jesus was traveling toward Jerusalem and was approaching Samaria. He saw ten men standing at a distance, all with leprosy. They cried out, asking Him to have mercy on them.

“He looked at them and said, ‘Go show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were healed. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, ‘Praise God!’ He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking Him for what He had done. This man was a Samaritan.” Luke 17:14-16

Samaritans were especially annoying to Jews. They saw them as half-breeds, Jews who had intermarried with pagan cultures. The lowest of the low, and yet Jesus saw a man in need who reached out to Him for help. It bothered the religious rulers who had great disdain for these “less than” people that Jesus would spend time with them.

Jesus is the ultimate Cinderella story. He sees everyone; no one is little or unnecessary in His eyes. If anyone comes to Him, seeking His help, He gives it freely. He not only cheers for the underdogs–He helps them see their value and worth to God.

Kolly got a great dose of encouragement from her cousins as they focused on her, loving her in a special way by building her a Kolly space.

It’s what Jesus does for us. He never sees losers or underdogs.

He makes us winners in His space.