I heard his story from a preacher friend. A little boy was diagnosed as having a terminal illness. When he was told the situation and that he would soon die, he retreated fearfully into a cocoon of total silence. No one…not his doctors or nurses, not even his parents could get through to him. He would not speak to anyone. The only way he would communicate was through drawings he scratched out on a legal pad.
One drawing showed a beautiful cottage set off to the side of the paper. Above the cottage was a bright, brilliant shining sun. Surrounding the cottage was a beautiful lawn with flowers and trees. In front of the cottage was a family of four: a mother, a father and two children playing. In the center of the paper, however, there stood a tiny figure (a little boy) standing there all alone and facing a large army tank about to run him down.
Obviously, the tiny figure represented the dying child who saw himself so small, so vulnerable and so helpless before a gigantic force which was about to destroy him.
Some ministerial students were brought in, were told about the little boy’s terminal illness and his self-imposed silence. Then they were shown that picture of the boy and the tank and they were asked: How could you help this child? How could you break through the silence and get him to talk again about his feelings and fears and offer him faith and hope? It was suggested to the students that the best approach would be for them to try to communicate through this drawing…by adding something to the picture.
One by one the seminarians came forward to try. One drew a picture of a man holding a stop sign in front of the tank. But this got nowhere. It did nothing to soothe the little boy when it was shown to him. Think about it….What would you have drawn?
Finally, there was a break-through. One seminarian drew the picture that knocked down the wall of silence and enabled the little boy to perk up and speak and eventually pour out all his feelings to that seminarian.
What was the healing picture that encouraged the little boy and set him free? A seminarian added to the picture a person doing a very simple thing. Holding the hand of the little boy who was facing that huge tank. The presence and the hand of a supportive friend made all the difference. It enabled the little boy to face his fears, deal with his problems, and talk about them with courage and grace.” (Dr. Jim Moore, sermon, “We Are Not Alone”, July 9, 1989, pp. 1-2)
Ponder that…one person bolding the hand of a little boy brought him to life. Even one person can make a difference.
Simple but common situations are all around us: lonely persons, people filled with anxiety, persons facing challenges, addicted persons feeling helpless. All sorts of people in places where love and support is what they need to face their problems, talk about them, and be given the courage and strength to live, no matter what.
Pay attention. One person can make a difference. You may be that one person.