“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” -2 Corinthians 1:3-4
UPS drivers spend their days bringing packages to homes and businesses. They usually drop their cargo and run to their next destination. Raheem Cooper is a UPS driver in Valdosta, Georgia. Raheem was on his route when something caught his attention. Raheem spotted a person lying on the ground. He stopped his truck and jumped out to see what was wrong.
Raheem found Marie Coble and immediately called an ambulance. He stayed with her until help arrived. While he was with her, he did all he could to comfort her. When Marie arrived at the hospital, she was rushed into emergency surgery. The surgery was successful, and Marie is on her way to recovery. The doctors said she would not have survived had she not been brought in for immediate surgery.
When Marie’s granddaughter, Kayla, found out about the UPS driver who saved her grandmother, she contacted Raheem and invited him to the hospital. Kayla said, “he was truly an angel to our family to have found her because if he wouldn’t have, she would have died that day.” He was invited to the hospital so the family could express their gratitude. Marie had not spoken since the surgery, but when Raheem entered the room, she sat up in her bed and smiled.
Raheem Cooper was on a busy route that day and could have continued working. Instead, he stopped what he was doing and put Marie’s needs before his own schedule. His compassion and kindness saved Marie’s life. Raheem and Marie were strangers, but now they are family.
Our faith calls us to a life of grace. God has been compassionate and kind to us. This is how we are to act towards one another. Raheem understood how important it is to put other’s needs above his own. Just as we have received from God, let us be reminded that we are called to share with all who are in need.
Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
