A LITTLE GIRL HELPS A SICK MAN

Dear child, I am going to tell you how a little girl helped a very sick man. This story happened long, long time ago. In olden days there were no hospitals or doctors. People who got sick usually died of the disease. Others lived with the sickness suffering pain for the rest of their lives. Wealthy people who became sick used to visit village healers or witch doctors for healing.

Many years ago a little girl was stolen from her parents. Some soldiers carried her far away to another country. In olden days, after a war the conquering country used to take the defeated people as slaves. There she became a maid in a captain’s home. His name was Naaman. The little girl helped Naaman’s wife with her work.

The little girl’s mother had told her about our loving God, and how He takes care of us. So in this strange land also, she remembered that our heavenly Father loved her and was with her. So she loved Him. When she was sad, she would pray, and God would make her happy again. Instead of hating the captain and his wife, she tried hard to help and please them.

Naaman and his wife lived in a big house, for he was a very rich man. He was also a dear friend of the king and a very great man. But Naaman and his wife were very sad because Naaman had leprosy. That was a very bad sickness. No village healer of witch doctor could help people with leprosy. Remember there was no modern medical facility in olden days. Leprosy makes the skin look white like snow and full of ugly sores.

The little girl felt sorry for Naaman and his wife. She wanted to help her master get well. One day she said to Naaman’s wife: “Oh, how I wish Naaman would go to the prophet in my country! He would cure my master of his sickness,” Naaman’s wife talked about it in the king’s palace. When the king heard what the little girl had said, he called for Naaman. “You must go to the prophet and be healed,” he said. So the captain went and took with him many servants and many, many presents.

When Naaman came to the Prophet Elisha’s house, the prophet did not even come out to talk with him. Prophet Elisha’s servant came out and said: “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan River, and your skin will be new and clean.” At first this made Naaman very angry. He expected the prophet to receive him into his house. Naaman wanted to be respected as a captain of army. So he felt insulted by the prophet. Angry and insulted, he did not want to do what the prophet had said. He did not think it would help him. So he started to go back home.

But Naaman’s servants talked to him. They said: “If the prophet had asked you to do something hard, wouldn’t you have done it? Then why don’t you do what he said?” Naaman thought for some time. His anger had gone, and he had come to his senses. So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and began to dip himself under. Even after dipping himself in water for six times there was no change. But finally he dipped himself under the water the seventh time. After he had done this, he looked at himself. Oh, what a change! The white skin and the ugly sores were gone. Naaman was very, very happy.

When Naaman saw that he was healed, he hurried back to thank the prophet. He said to Prophet Elisha: “Now I know that there is no God except Prophet Elisha’s God.” Then he begged the prophet to take some presents. But Prophet Elisha would not take any gifts. He wanted Naaman to thank God. Then Naaman said: “I will never again pray to any other gods.” And he went back remembering the favour done to him by his servant girl.

Dear child, you have seen how the little servant girl helped Naaman. Let us also help who are sick and needy around us by praying for them. Also we should tell them about our loving heavenly Father who is ready to help them and heal them. Let us lead the sick and need people to our God like the little girl did. Let us pray: Lord, help me to lead the sick and need people around me to You by telling them about your love and kindness. Amen.

May the Lord bless you!