Recently, I helped my wife at our local church camp. The camp directors and my wife, who was the lead cook, were caught off guard by how quickly the summer camp season crept up on them this year. With very little help scheduled, I agreed to assist wherever needed. Although I wasn’t enthusiastic, I put on a happy face and resolved to do my best because when momma needs help, I’ve learned to drop everything.

As I prepared alongside my wife and the camp directors’ wife for the evening meal, I noticed some friends enter the building with their three young children. With smiles on their faces, the kids approached me holding a cardboard box. I asked the eldest boy what he had, and he excitedly lifted the box to show me.

He described that he had captured an insect and made it his new pet. As I peered into the box, the insect that was inside was like no other I’ve ever seen. Before me was a large — seriously large — bug with big pinchers on its face. As I congratulated the boy, the only thing I could think of was that the camp director was going to lose his mind when he found out his cafeteria was now the temporary home for such an imposing-looking creature.

Before long, the eldest boy placed the box containing the creature at the back of the room and approached me. With a devoutly committed look on his face the boy looked up and said, “Mr. Rick what can I do to help”?