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Our Place Marker

by Joanne Wiklund

Had an appointment in a clinic last week and I had to stand in line at check in. I did pretty well, but I am not a “stand arounder” any more. I’m either sitting or moving. Standing is so hard. I had a driver with me, and she sat and I took my place in line. I did pretty good for awhile, but got to shifting around and then took a break and sat down. At that point another woman came in the door and stepped in the line I was in at a distance. My niece said, “I’m going to be your Place Marker.” She said it in a very nice way, and the late comer stepped back and said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t think about you could be in line.”

My niece did her own share of shifting around a little while she was waiting, and I told her I could switch. She said she was fine and before long I got to check in. I thought how kind it was of her to think of that and to do it in a way that didn’t offend anyone. It’s just like her, that’s all. She is a very compassionate person. I thought later about this and I guess I’ve been a Place Marker before and like her, didn’t think about it. It just needed to be done so I did it. As I continued to think about it, I thought about Jesus. He is the ultimate Place Marker. It was something He did because His Father wanted him to. He just came and endured it because they both wanted to keep us all “from evil and temptation.” We serve because we, like they, want to fill a need for someone else.

When you are raised with someone who has a disability like our father did, you begin from early childhood to learn to anticipate what others around you need. You learn to watch for ways to help and to put the needs of others before your own. With siblings sometimes at an early age, it’s difficult to give in and let your sibling have what you want and have to wait to get yours. Even if you have able bodied parents, they can teach you how to be aware of the needs of others. I’m so pleased to know so many giving, loving people. In my life, I feel I am privileged to be part of a society that remembers how necessary it is to look for ways to help others. Giving to others helps us heal ourselves.

Luke 6:21 “Blessed art they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”

John 16:20 “Ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.”

Galatians 6:2 “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of  Christ.”