Because We Care
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series II Cycle A
The man sat in the waiting room of the doctor's office all by himself. He was the last patient of the day. He looked sad, so sad that he caught the attention of the office administrator, Ellen. She decided that since it was the end of the day she would go talk to him to make sure he was all right.
Ellen sat down near him, not identifying herself as an employee. She asked him how he was doing, "I'm doing better than before," he slowly and deliberately said. "Better than before?" Ellen questioned. "Yes," he responded, not looking up to see who was speaking with him. The man told how he and his family had moved from the west coast to the east and were experiencing difficulties. A friend told him there was plenty of work in the east, so they packed everything they could fit into their old station wagon and moved.
This was the biggest mistake he made, he told her in no uncertain terms.
The children were having a hard time adjusting to a new school and making new friends. He admitted that he and his wife also were having a hard time getting situated in a new community. He wasn't able to find work either. His only option was working a couple of part-time jobs, barely making enough to feed his family. He told her they were living in shack on the edge of town without any running water. The children complained of being hungry when they went to bed, which made him feel worse. He wanted to be a good father. He had reached the point where he just could not continue like this any longer.
His solution, the only solution he could think of, was to kill his wife and children and then turn the gun on himself, committing suicide. Ellen sat there in shock as this mysterious man continued his story. He had all the plans worked out in his mind, of how and where he was going to do it. He even had a gun. Then one day he received a postcard in the mail from the doctor's office reminding him that his children needed their shots. On the front of the postcard were the words "Because We Care." That postcard changed his outlook on life. He thought no one would miss him and his family. He thought no one cared whether they lived or died. He told his wife, "You know the doctor will know if our children do not get their shots." She agreed. For the first time in a very long time he could see his way out of their dilemma. An appointment was made for the children.
Ellen was the person who ordered those postcards. She never gave it a thought as she placed her order. Ellen was unprepared for what this stranger told her. She tried to find the right words, something to make him feel better, but found it difficult. She told him she was glad he did not kill himself and his family. Before she left the office she called several places she knew that would provide assistance for this family, to offer both physical support and emotional support.
Ellen would later tell a friend that she never came any closer to death than she did that afternoon.
Ellen sat down near him, not identifying herself as an employee. She asked him how he was doing, "I'm doing better than before," he slowly and deliberately said. "Better than before?" Ellen questioned. "Yes," he responded, not looking up to see who was speaking with him. The man told how he and his family had moved from the west coast to the east and were experiencing difficulties. A friend told him there was plenty of work in the east, so they packed everything they could fit into their old station wagon and moved.
This was the biggest mistake he made, he told her in no uncertain terms.
The children were having a hard time adjusting to a new school and making new friends. He admitted that he and his wife also were having a hard time getting situated in a new community. He wasn't able to find work either. His only option was working a couple of part-time jobs, barely making enough to feed his family. He told her they were living in shack on the edge of town without any running water. The children complained of being hungry when they went to bed, which made him feel worse. He wanted to be a good father. He had reached the point where he just could not continue like this any longer.
His solution, the only solution he could think of, was to kill his wife and children and then turn the gun on himself, committing suicide. Ellen sat there in shock as this mysterious man continued his story. He had all the plans worked out in his mind, of how and where he was going to do it. He even had a gun. Then one day he received a postcard in the mail from the doctor's office reminding him that his children needed their shots. On the front of the postcard were the words "Because We Care." That postcard changed his outlook on life. He thought no one would miss him and his family. He thought no one cared whether they lived or died. He told his wife, "You know the doctor will know if our children do not get their shots." She agreed. For the first time in a very long time he could see his way out of their dilemma. An appointment was made for the children.
Ellen was the person who ordered those postcards. She never gave it a thought as she placed her order. Ellen was unprepared for what this stranger told her. She tried to find the right words, something to make him feel better, but found it difficult. She told him she was glad he did not kill himself and his family. Before she left the office she called several places she knew that would provide assistance for this family, to offer both physical support and emotional support.
Ellen would later tell a friend that she never came any closer to death than she did that afternoon.
