Covid took the life of someone in our inner circle. He was like a son in our house and like a brother to our children. He showed us how to really live love in the world. Boeta was a young man with Down Syndrome and in his way, he was a mentor to me.

His mom tells what happened one day when a man walked past their house. Boeta walked to the man and said these words to him: “I love you” and “Jesus loves you.”

Years later someone came to them and asked if they knew what had happened that day. They said that they didn’t know about anything that had happened that day. The person then told them that the man had been on his way to take his own life, but after Boeta had spoken to him, his life had undergone a complete transformation. The love that shone from Boeta changed the way he looked at life.

Wherever Boeta went, he hugged people and told them how much he loved them. Everybody at Spar knew him and when they heard that he had passed away, the cashier burst out crying.

He was my mentor who showed me how to walk. What to do. He showed us how we can make Jesus’ command to go and live love, a reality in life.

He did exactly what the author of Hebrews tells us we should do: ¹³Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!

He was indeed an example we could follow. He did indeed help people who were struggling. He brightened up their lives. Even showed someone who no longer wanted to live where real love could be found.

How is your life going? What are your steps doing in the world? Do people want to follow you or are they avoiding you? Are people’s burdens growing lighter or is your way of walking through the world making others suffer?

Not easy questions, hey?

Let’s use this verse to do some retrospection. Let the example of Boeta’s life put your life under the magnifying glass so that you can see how you have to live differently.

Make deliberate changes. Get the frogs out of the pipe. Put the own self aside and look at the way Jesus did things. Then go and do the same and help lighten other people’s load. Help them carry the load. Take the load from them, so that they can also walk enthusiastically through life. So, let’s go and make a real difference in the world.

Scripture
Hebrews 12:12-13

Reflection
What does your walk through life look like?
Where do you have to do something differently?
Where can you lighten another’s burden?

Prayer
Lord, please help me to love others with what I say and do. Amen.