Help comes from loving who God loves…everyone

A wealthy man died, apparently without leaving a will. According to the law, his estate would be divided among the several cousins who were the next of kin.

Also, as prescribed by law, the deceased's household goods and other items of personal property would be converted into cash by way of a public auction.

During the estate sale, the auctioneer offered a framed photograph for sale. No one bid on the photograph, including the cousins. Later, a woman approached the auctioneer asking to purchase the picture for one dollar; it was all she had.

She explained it was a photograph of the deceased man's only son and further related that she had been a servant in the deceased's household. The boy had lost his life trying to rescue a drowning person, and she had loved him very much. The auctioneer accepted the dollar.

The woman, taking the photograph, went home and placed it on a table beside her bed. Sometime later, she noticed a bulge in the back of the frame. Upon opening the backing, to her amazement, was the rich man's will.

The instructions in the will were very simple: “I give and bequeath all my possessions to the person who cares enough for my son to cherish this photograph.”

Loving like God loves connects us to help that is beyond explanation.

The Rev. Paul Killingsworth serves as pastor at Yuma First Assembly.