What you do to the least…

Matthew 25:40 foretells of Christ’s reaction to the hard-hearted upon his return. “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

It’s a familiar sentiment in Thibodaux this week.

Shock at last Sunday’s vicious beheading and dismembering of an innocent, debilitated 7-year-old, referred to as an angel by his mother, has yet to wane.

The community was left in disbelief after learning Jori Lirette’s father, Jeremiah Wright, lacking any emotion, confessed the crime to authorities.

Family, friends, neighbors, classmates and people who never crossed paths with Jori are mourning his loss today. The family’s previous Seventh Street home has been turned into a makeshift memorial. What started as one helium-filled balloon bearing the characters from the Disney film “Cars” and a couple of teddy bears now stretches the length of the porch from which Jori’s body was pitched.

Through Wright’s testimony, authorities have learned that he and Jori’s mother, Jesslyn, ended their relationship the previous night. She was on her way to retrieve her vehicle to move Wright to his mother’s home.

The decision, sadly, came one day too late.

Evil lives in our neighborhoods, on our streets and even in our homes. The community of Thibodaux was reminded of that harsh fact last week.

It simmers, then boils and, often, catches us completely unaware. The events on Seventh Street have reshaped our lives. We’ve been reminded that heinous crimes can occur at anytime, anywhere.

Jori’s short life presented him with challenges. Born prematurely, a stroke and heart complications marked his entry to the world. Cerebral palsy also left him restricted most of his time to a wheelchair. But Jori’s family is quick to remind us of the good times. The boy’s smile, which would light up the room. His love for certain music and TV shows. How much he enjoyed school and learning.

Only God could foretell of this young boy’s future. And, today, it is in His safety Jori still lives.

As we support the Lirette family through their grief, the challenge remains for each of us to hold our children a little bit closer, embarrass them with an extra dose of love and remember the extraordinary gift God has entrusted us with in allowing us to raise these young people.

At the end of the day, the lessons we impart will help keep them safe when evil calls.