Recently I read the children’s book, The Errant Knight by Ann Tompert . It is the story of a knight who is called to serve his king. From the very beginning he is determined that he will get to the king’s castle to serve him. Instead the knight is stopped by people needing his help whether it was to find a lost child, build a church that had fallen into ruin or to help fellow travelers. Each time someone needed his help, he struggled internally. He knew he was to go and help his king, but instead of going directly he continues to help citizens along the way. In the end he is old and finally makes it to the king’s castle feeling as if he had not served his king, but he is wrong. Here is what the king said to the knight:
“Ah”, said the King with a smile, “but you have. All these many years tales of your gallant deeds have reached me. Did you not know that every time you helped one of my people, you were my own true and faithful knight?”
Aren’t many of us like the knight in the story especially we as mothers? We want to be able to serve God through our church and in our community, but it doesn’t seem as if we ever get to that point. We must remember as the knight discovered that it is what we do for others where we are in our walk. Whether it be wiping a child’s runny nose, watching a friend’s children, providing a meal for a family in need, we ARE serving our Lord. Time will come when you will be able to get involved in more church activities and such, but right now we must remember we are where God wants us to be.
[Reviewed by Linda Nelson, Sacred Heart Books and Gifts, LLC]
