“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.” Isaiah 11:6

I saw a video on Facebook the other day. It recorded an event at the finish line of a running race for young boys, about 10 years old. Two boys were getting close when one’s shoe flipped off and he fell to the ground with a hurt ankle. The other boy kept running past him. When he got to the finish line, he stopped. Looking back, he ran towards the downed boy, helped him up and together they headed toward the ribbon still strung across the track. Coming up fast behind them were two other boys. Instead of going around and winning the race, both of these boys slowed down and all four crossed the finish line together, laughing and hugging in a circle, happy they had all reached their goal.

My heart was touched. I thought, “This is what life is all about — lifting spirits, easing burdens, focusing on the joy of all of us crossing the finish line of life together, even if we have been damaged along the way.” Proverbs 20:11 observes, “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.” These boys were pure and right in that moment, and the happiness on their faces as they crossed the line together reflected their goodness.

Boys become men. These boys already understand the commitment of “No man left behind”. This is the unofficial slogan of U.S. military, especially the United States Marine Corps. Two monuments stand in front of the Warrior Hope and Care units at both Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California and at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina. They depict two soldiers helping a third wounded soldier back to safety.  Both are based on a photograph taken by combat photographer Lucien Read during the Battle of Fallujah (Iraq) in November of 2004. 

All of us trip and fall at some point in our lives, either emotionally, physically, or spiritually, through our own choice or by the choice of others or by accident. It will happen to us or to family and friends or to strangers. How will we behave? What choice will we make? Who will we help? Who will help us?

In Luke 10, Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan who, while traveling along a road in ancient Israel, saw an injured man lying in his path. Instead of leaving him there and gossiping about him at the next inn along the way, the Samaritan had compassion, tended to his wounds and paid for his care until he would pass by again to check on him. 

We are all children of God. We never know when we will meet a brother or sister in need. One such encounter happened to me several years ago at the Wasilla Library. I had taken my young grandson, about 18 months old, outside. It was in the fall and chilly outside, but he needed some space to toddle about and be loud. A man saw us and headed our direction. He appeared to be a native Alaskan dressed in dirty worn camouflage clothing. He seemed to be on some sort of drug or alcohol and probably homeless. Lots of thoughts filled my mind. Is he dangerous? Is he begging? I have nothing to give. Should I go inside? 

I decided to stay, and we began a conversation. He came to see the baby, he said.  He told me his name and a bit about himself, about growing up in a village in the bush. He was kind but he never asked me for anything, except if could he play with the baby, and did I know of anyone who was hiring. After a while, he moved on. Sometimes all that is needed is a smile and friendly conversation to brighten someone’s day, even though we cannot fix their entire life.

I have had other encounters with strangers – in airports, on the street, in a line at the store. Some had amazing consequences, others were just quiet moments of connecting with another human being. Not all encounters with strangers are positive, but if we are open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit who knows what miracles we may witness.

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to sing at the Washington D. C. Temple Visitors Center with the Norfolk Stake Choir (also known as the Tidewater Mormon Choir). One number we sang is called “A Little Child Shall Lead Them”. The words and music still echo in my mind: “A little child shall lead them, he will bring them home, all the earth will see him, the knowledge of the Lord.”

What is the knowledge of the Lord? To love one another, to bear one another’s burdens, to mourn with those that mourn, to be peacemakers, to share the light of Christ in whatever circumstances we find ourselves.

May we be like those young innocent runners who found great joy in helping their friend cross the finish line so we can all be winners this Christmas season, and all year ‘round.

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Photo Credit 1: painting by William Strutter Peace “A Little Child Shall Lead Them”.

Photo Credit 2: Fallujah statue, based on Lucian Read’s photograph, outside the Fisher House at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, N.C., on Wednesday, November 19, 2014. (Mike Morones/Marine Corps Times)

Column originally published in the Frontiersman newspaper’s Faith Column on 12 January 2025.