Life is so messy that heartbreaking and heartwarming commonly coexist in the same story. Some fiction authors are very skilled, and their stories become classics to be read decade after decade. Our Author of Life, God the Father, writes non-fiction epics that include those of us that are willing to say “Yes,” to his invitations.

I recently heard the story of a custody battle for three teenage boys. Their parents were unable to care for them, so their paternal grandfather and his wife made abundant promises as to the wonderful life they would provide if the boys moved in with them in another state. The maternal grandparents ultimately agreed, believing that those people had the best interest of the boys in mind. A short time passed, and the paternal grandparents stopped responding to texts and calls and the New York grandmother, let’s call her Carol, started hearing terrible stories of abuse from the eldest boy.

It so happened that another of Carol’s daughters was signing her child up for religious education at her church. Standing in line, she was telling a friend the heart-wrenching story of what her nephews were enduring. A woman behind her stepped forward and said, “I couldn’t help but hear your story. My husband can help.” As it happened, the helpful eavesdropper’s husband is an experienced lawyer who works for a prestigious firm with offices in both states. Carol travelled to that state for several months and the New York lawyer and his colleagues there worked pro bono to rescue those boys and return them to Carol and her husband. When Carol asked the out of state lawyer why he had agreed to take her case, he said that he had three teenage boys himself.

Those boys need a lot of love and support now and Carol and her extended family are pouring it out, but those legal heroes made a big impression on the boys, especially the eldest. He is starting his junior year in high school with the plan to become a lawyer. The safety of those boys and their promise of a hopeful future are thanks to a caring Catholic mother who responded to the Holy Spirit’s nudge to intervene. I love stories like this. God is putting all of us into key positions to help friends and strangers every day, often in life-altering ways. As disciples, let us not hesitate to offer our skills and talents to help rewrite stories from heartbreaking to heartwarming.

Scripture: Read Psalm 82:3-4. What stands out?

Call to Action: Please pray for those three boys and others like them that have experienced childhood trauma.