“Why don’t you do something, God?”
“Like what?”
“Well, I don’t know. Something. Anything!”
“What’s the matter?”
“There’s someone who really needs to know that you love them, God. Someone who really needs your help.”
“What should I do, then?”
“Well, something that makes them feel loved.”
“Like what?”
“Well-”
“Should I give them a hug, perhaps? Write them a note telling them that I’m thinking of them? Give them a gift?”
“I suppose-”
“Sometimes all it takes is a smile, you know. Someone smiling at you can make a lot of difference. Should I smile at them, James?”
“I-”
“Because I do. You know that, right? You know that. How about a kind word? That can work wonders. A timely dose of kindness to a wounded soul can turn a broken man into a saint, can’t it? Or have you forgotten that whole pear thing?”
“No, but-”
“Every day I whisper love to people’s hearts. Sometimes I shout. But people aren’t always listening. There are always so many other things they’d rather listen to. And I made a decision a long time ago, a decision to delegate. Delegation is an act of trust, which is an act of love, you see.”
“I know-”
“And I could, I could reach out my arms and take the whole world into a hug, and draw it near to my beating heart and drown out everything else with my love, I could, and one day I will, but for now I have no arms and I have no smile. I gave those things away, James. I gave those things away a long time ago. Do you know who I gave them to, James? Do you?”
“I think-”
“That’s right. I gave them to you, and your brothers and sisters. I didn’t just give you peace and forgiveness and hope, I gave you responsibility. I gave you my arms and my feet and my smile and I said, ‘Here you go. You’re in charge of these now. Use them wisely.’ I delegated.”
“All right, I-”
“I am at work, James. I’m always speaking, always reminding a stubborn world that I’m here. But I’ve got an idea, James, about this person who needs to know my love. Do you want to hear my idea?”
“…”
“Do you, James?”
“Yes, God.”
“Well then, here it is. Are you ready?”
“Yes, God.”
“Why don’t you do something?”
