I became an uncle, as well as a father this year. I unfortunately could not find the original story to link back to, but this week’s sermon theme reminded me of a news story in which an uncle saved his niece when the deck they were on collapsed. He realized the deck was collapsing and they could not get to safety, so he picked her up, protected her in a bear hug, and took the force of the fall himself. They both survived, the niece with barely a scratch, but the uncle broke his back. (If anyone remembers this story and has a link, please send it to me.)

While searching for that news story, I found it tragic how many stories there were about uncles hurting their nieces, but I did find this story about an uncle who “walked, rode in an ambulance, used a boat, flew by helicopter and finally by plane” over four days to get his niece to medical care.

What would you do to save someone? Would you carry their body for days? Sacrifice your own body? Tell them about Jesus?

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)

©2011 Paul Tillman