After David had been king for about 15 years he fulfilled a promise he had made to his best friend, Jonathan, before Jonathan died in battle: that he would show kindness to his family as long as he was king. So David sent for Jonathan's only son-Mephibosheth-whom the Bible describes as being "crippled in both feet." He restored to Mephibosheth all the inheritance of his family, and promised him the rights and privileges of the king's family by allowing Mephibosheth to always eat at the king's table. Like a parable, this story teaches us something amazing about the love and kindness of God toward us.