Mark 10:16(BSB)
And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them, and blessed them.
As many of you know, years ago I was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease. I have been able to manage my disease by making significant lifestyle changes, all of which I share with you on this website. Last month, I was able to attend a center for lifestyle change, where I met a young girl named Ruby.
My body was in the workout room, but my mind was not—it was focused on all the items on my to-do list. Suddenly, my inner discussion was interrupted by a five year-old who was determined to remind me that we had met before on one of the facility’s many walking trails. She was a delightful child who felt that I should not have to work out alone; thus, she walked on the treadmill right next to me. While she was pleased with her newfound purpose, I, on the other hand, wondered where her parents were.
Ruby’s presence forced me to elevate my mind from all the worries I had entangled myself in, and to instead focus on the fact that she had kept up with me on the treadmill: 17 minutes at 2.3 miles an hour. When we finished, I applauded her accomplishment and asked her if she wanted to be an Olympic star when she grew up. She gave me the sweetest smile and said, “No. I just want to go to heaven when I grow up.”
That lifestyle center boasts many impressive doctors and teachers, but the greatest lesson I learned there was taught by that five year-old child. I learned that sometimes I need to take my mind off the worries of this world, the things I need to do, and the places I need to be. Instead, I need to simply rest my mind where Ruby rests hers, for that is where I find peace.
