Look for the helpers
Earlier this fall, we were mowing the lawn when we noticed a small little something poke out from behind a bush and dart across the street. A tiny, baby bunny was hopping away as fast as it could to get away from the noise and danger of the lawn mower. While it was trying to get to safety, there was just one problem — this bunny was so small that it hopped right over the holes of the sewer grate along the edge of the street and fell a few feet down below.
Now we had a problem. One small, scared bunny. And our two very worried kids, who had watched all this unfold, and were now determined we had to help with a rabbit rescue.
After several phone calls, Animal Protection Services arrived to help. But they weren’t equipped to remove the heavy sewer drain cover. This led to another phone call to the City of Davenport, who had no personnel available to come help any time soon. Which then meant another call to the Davenport Fire Department, where three wonderfully patient firefighters arrived for perhaps their least urgent (but possibly most adorable) call of the day.
After about an hour of phone calls and getting the right people involved, the baby bunny was safely picked up by a net and returned to the bushes. We hope it met up with its mom soon enough and had quite the story to tell.
After all the excitement had died down and we were walking back inside, our 5-year-old said to no one in particular, “It’s good there were so many helpers.” He was right. That bunny was awfully lucky that so many people were willing to help. It reminded me of the wonderful quote from Mr. Rogers: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” There’s something about seeing people step up during challenging moments that brings a sense of hope.
Honestly, we’re all in need of helpers from time to time, aren’t we? Or if we aren’t the ones looking for help, we might at least be looking for hope. Some small reminder that we’re not left alone. There are people willing to make the time or effort to do what they can to help.
Psalm 46 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Sometimes that help feels like a comforting sense of calm when we’re overwhelmed or things feel out of control. Sometimes help comes from medicine or a warm meal or the promise that we’re not alone. And sometimes, God’s help might show up in the form of a few willing firefighters and 10 minutes of their time.
God’s help shows up — sometimes exactly the way you might hope, other times in beautiful and unexpected places. In the words of one 5-year-old, “It’s good there’s so many helpers.”
