A daycare worker in Fishers, Indiana, a growing suburb north of Indianapolis, has been charged with nineteen felony battery accounts.  Documentation shows evidence of shoving a child's head into a change table, slamming her down, and covering her face with a blanket.  Video evidence shows children being dragged, thrown to the ground, and pushed.  Further video shows a boy being struck in the back of his head and kicked in the back before being lifted from the ground by one arm.  Another girl was dropped onto a tile floor.

In Brownsburg, Indiana, a town of approximately thirty thousand just west of Indianapolis, a teacher and aide have been charged with felony offenses against a special education elementary student.  Three other staff members have been charged with misdemeanors for failure to report the incident.  A child of seven was told that if he vomited, he would have to eat his own vomit.  A tray was placed in front of the child, and when the child vomited, he was given a spoon with which to eat the vomit, which he did, as the adults watched.

The High Calling to Serve the Least

Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.  (Matthew 25:40, ESV)

In the early days after the resurrection of Jesus, His disciples found that the demands on their time both to preach the good news and serve the needy had to be divided among them, and in Acts 6:2-3, we read of their decision.  

"And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, 'It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.'"

The verb for "to serve" is at the root of the word "deacon," about whose qualifications we read the following in 1 Timothy 3:8-10.

"Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless."

Working with children, working with the elderly, working with those with special needs...serving in a school or hospital, a rehab facility or a nursing home...these are among the highest callings.  Too often we honor only those with keen intellect or great physical prowess, or those who have earned a degree in certain disciplines.  We honor them with large salaries, benefits, and perks of the job.  All the while, we are content for anyone with a pulse to serve a role that can only truly be filled by the best among us.

Lord, have mercy.  Christ, have mercy.  Lord, have mercy.

And may He have mercy on us all.