Esther and Ryan — and You and Me by Peter A. Black

Credit: Esther's Family

I admit to any grammarian readers that my title is poor grammar.  :)

She could always be counted on. For decades she put in many thousands of hours – all for free! Esther’s soft features and warm smile would often be the first to greet you in the hospital foyer, as she sat attentive behind the desk, with the current patient list at the ready.

With her thorough knowledge of the building, her directions, if followed, would always get you to where you needed to go.

Esther came off her volunteer shift last week. It would be her last. She died that day. Esther was one hundred-and-two—in fact, closer to one-hundred-and three! Well done good and faithful servant. She began this volunteer stint in 1950 and never stopped.

Why did she not take her senior years easy? Why not relax and enjoy herself?

She did enjoy herself: she loved God and life, and people.

Time, like an ever-rolling stream . . .

In a recent column article I wrote that it’s not difficult to find kindness, gratitude and generosity in the world, but also how it takes little effort to tear people down with negative attitudes and mean-spiritedness. I later thought that I should be on the lookout for a couple of positive examples of self-giving for this piece. 

Days later, that remarkable lady, Esther, received her home-call from this life. And then, my wife, who’d been reading the book, Chicken Soup for the Canadian Soul,* told me the inspiring story it contained about Ryan.

Six year-old Ryan’s grade one teacher told the class about how children in developing countries often didn’t have enough food or clean water. 

A list had been circulated stating the cost of various items – a pencil, a hot meal, a blanket. But when Ryan realised that without clean, safe water many children were dying, he knew he must do something about it.

In the bulb there is a flower . . .

He went home and told his parents he needed seventy dollars to buy a well. He began doing chores around the home and setting the money aside. He worked and worked, and still wanted to do

more outside of the home and for neighbours. This was no flash-in-the-pan—Ryan was for real.

It was now 1998 and, as things turned out, the well would require $2,000. His class became enthused about it, too, and other interested parties got on board. The money came in and the well was installed close by a school in Uganda. It would serve the whole community. That was not the end, the youngster’s zeal continued unabated, and Ryan’s Well Foundation** was established. The work continues with more that one million people helped through water well installations.

His mother wondered whether, with all the media attention, it would go to his head. But no, the lad took it in his stride. It wasn’t all about him; it was about the needs of those children. Young Ryan understood that it took all those other people to get the job done.

Sometimes it doesn’t take that much really, does it—to do some good in the world; to shed a little light into the darkness of some situation or other; to ignite the lamp of hope? And yet it often does take a lot—much self-sacrifice and numerous modest contributions from a great many people. . . . 

People like Esther

At one hundred-and-two

And Ryan at six 

And me and you.

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* © 2002 Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen. Publ. HCI Inc. Deerfield Beach, FL. 
** https://www.ryanswell.ca/ 
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Peter is a retired pastor – well, sort of retired – as he is currently engaged as an associate volunteer pastor. He lives in Southwestern Ontario with his wife, May, and writes a weekly inspirational newspaper column and occasional magazine articles. Peter is author of two books: "Parables from the Pond" (Word Alive Press) and "Raise Your Gaze . . . Mindful Musings of a Grateful Heart" (Angel Hope Publishing). He and May are also engaged in leading nursing home / residential chapel services, pulpit supply and music. ~+~