“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 82:3-4

Freddy was a classmate of mine in junior high school. He had a condition referred to (at the time) as “water on the brain.” The excess fluid around his skull created an oversized and awkward head for Freddy. Junior high school is an awful place to be different. Immature people create the worst possible names for our apparent weaknesses. Freddy was called Watermelon Head.

One day between classes in a hallway filled with people, a group of boys started picking on Freddy. They called him names and shoved him around. This was the same year I became a Christian. Something was stirring in me, something that was not there before—or perhaps I should say someone.

I felt compelled to go and stand between Freddy and the bullies. But in the end, I did nothing. Forty years later I still think about this incident. As a new, immature Christian, I failed Freddy, and he took the abuse with no advocate. I am so sorry, Freddy. With God’s forgiveness granted, I wake up each day praying for the courage to “defend,” to “uphold the cause,” and “rescue” the Freddys God puts in my life.

“I believe God calls all Christians to show compassion to people in need.”

[Excerpt from Believe: 31-Day Devotional by Randy & Rozanne Frazee, pgs. 19-20.]