Thinking Outside the Box (10/27/2025)

She was struggling. She had lost her husband after nearly 50 years of marriage. She was lonely. It was Friday night, and she wasn’t looking forward to the weekend because those days and nights seemed even longer and lonelier. Then the doorbell rang. She almost didn’t answer it. She wasn’t expecting anyone. Who could it be at 8 p.m. on a Friday night? She walked to the door slowly. When she opened it, she was totally surprised to see her 8 grandchildren standing outside with sleeping bags, pillows, bags of treats and board games. The oldest hollered, “We’re here for a surprise pajama party.”  

She’d wondered what she could do that would help her. Her family had noticed. And they thought outside the box. They could have sent a letter. They could have sent flowers. But they realized that what she really needed was a large dose of love with tons of memories and a few zany photos. Sometimes, loving well means taking new tactics and thinking beyond the ordinary.

I learned about this from my granddaughter. She shared the video taken by one of the grandchildren who showed up for the surprise pajama party. We talked about how awesome it was that all of them would make sure they were there for their grandmother. And we were touched by how they searched for a real and loving way to meet the needs of their grandmother who’d met their needs a time or two in the past.

Today’s gospel recounts Jesus’ curing of a woman afflicted with a crippling spirit for 18 years. Jesus’ compassion for the woman led to Him curing her on a sabbath. It was not what anyone was expecting, but it was what was right in the moment for that woman. Jesus shows us so many times in the gospels that we need to think outside the box, go beyond the minimal response, and truly and lovingly give to the other what is needed. In today’s gospel, it was healing. In the story I shared, it was loving companionship.

Who in our world needs us to see them, to realize their need in the moment? Is it a neighbor, a spouse, a dear friend, a sibling, an elderly grandparent, a child? If we brought all our love to the moment and used all our gifts and graces to address the need, what could we come up with that would let them know they are seen, they are loved, they matter to us and to the LORD? Let's not be afraid to think outside the box...love, you know, has a way of surprising us all.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.