Esther and Abel had been married a long time. It finally got so that they could not take care of their home, and Abel just could not go to work any more. They had grown old.
Their daughter and her husband, Peter, became worried about them. They could not continue to live alone in their old age.
So Peter, young and strong, built onto his house. "Now you can come live with us," he announced when he showed the addition to Esther and Abel.
Esther and Abel had their own part of the house for privacy. But it was easy for them to walk to the main part of the house and visit with their grown children.
One day Peter announced, "I've met the next king of the Jews. He is Jesus." Jesus did not like people to think he was going to be an earthly king and only for the Jews, but people kept misunderstanding.
Peter and some others decided to join Jesus on a preaching tour around the country. They were to be gone a very long time.
"Your parents are here to keep you company," he told his wife before he left.
While Peter was away, Esther became very sick. She finally had to go to bed she was so sick. Abel sat by her bedside day and night.
Then one day Peter came home. He was so excited about the trip and how popular Jesus had become among the people. Suddenly he stopped.
"Where are Esther and Abel?" he asked.
Peter's wife explained everything. Immediately Peter ran and got Jesus.
"Come! My mother-in-law is very sick. Please come and heal her."
Jesus went to the house, looked kindly into old Esther's eyes, took hold of her hand, then said with a smile, "You can get up now. You're well."
"Hey, anyone hungry?" Esther said, jumping out of bed completely well. "I'm going to make everyone my very best meal for all of you." Everyone was amazed. It was a miracle.
While eating, someone knocked on their door. A sick neighbor just heard about the miracle and wanted healed too. Soon half the town was there wanting Jesus to heal them.
Although Jesus was becoming really important, he always took time to be with old people and children, sick people and foreign people. Sometimes a smile was all they needed. Even you and I can smile at people. And so we should.
Why don't you give a smile to someone who is lonely today?