Better Than a Band Aid

Becky spent the past week in New York City with the youth group. She was absolutely thrilled over this because her dream city is New York and she's begged to go for years. I don't do cities and have already been there once, so I wasn't keen on taking here there EVER. It was a win for everyone concerned.

She got home today after 8 days of intense inner city travel. Sam and I ran into town to pick her up, and took Micah along with. He was thrilled to see her. He sat beside her in Subway as we ate dinner, and we listened to her tales of a week's worth of excitement.

The youth group was there to share the Gospel with inner city kids in Queens. The church they were staying at had cautioned them that a local gang was bold enough to break and enter in broad daylight and that the girls should never go anywhere without an adult present. It was one of these kids' little brother that they became very close to. Becky cried as she relayed this boy's story to us, and the impact he had on their lives as well as the one they had on his. She was truly touched by the different lifestyle these kids have, and the bleak future that awaits them.

As she poured our her heart, with tears streaming down her face, Micah tried to comfort her. He doesn't like to see others cry and will always give a hug or a pat on the back to help out. He laid his head on her shoulder and put his arm around behind her. Then he looked up and saw the tears. There was only one thing to do to cheer her up.

He fed her an onion.

The boy loves onions. He eats them like an apple. We get extra onions on his half of the sub and it makes him a very happy boy. He simply wanted to share what was near and dear to his heart. He cares that much.

9 comments:

Molly said...

I worked at a school in Harlem. It was a different world. I had a mom slap her daughter across the face in the middle of the school. It made me sad.

Molly said...

also, where was she in Queens? Like what neighborhood?

Carol N. said...

Karen, I hope you don't mind me saying so, but...I just love your son ;O)

Debbie @ Three Weddings said...

It reminds me of one of my dad's favorite sayings, "Stop crying or I'll give you something to cry about." Onions will do it for me every time.

Peanut hates to see other cry, too. :-)

Unknown said...

Sweet boy that Micah is :) Great story!!!

JennyH said...

How cool for Becky! I hope she loved it. NYC is different for sure.

Micah is such a sweetheart.

Michelle said...

Oh what a sweet little boy. I love it - poor Becky. It's really interesting to compare what she must have been doing in NYC to what *I* was doing in NYC at the same time. Yikes.

Jennifer said...

That is so ridiculously sweet.

imbeingheldhostage said...

I love Micah. Let him wear whatever he wants to sleep in!