Updated on October 22, 2015
Life is hard…but God
We gave a family a ride home from church.
I couldn’t believe they had walked so far to get there. I can’t believe they walk so far to get anywhere. I have seen this family at the liquor store buying snacks and watched them walk home. It’s probably about a mile to both the church and the store. And this little family of 4 is walking.
We watch handicapped children unload and load buses every morning at both of our schools. We see aids waiting for them and helping them every minute of the day. We see these children, who can not do anything for themselves, come to the same school where we are to learn.
We have not experienced this before.
We are a part of a church with an older population. These people love deeply but are aging before they are ready. I sat in a prayer service. I sat there because I want this to be my church home. That means getting to a prayer service even when I don’t know one person on the growing list. So I listened. And heard the hurt as they talked about their visits and updates on their friends that were sick, dying, or mentally missing.
I have not experienced this type of service since I was a young girl when I would sit and listen and not understand what we were talking about.
I’m still struggling why God brought my family to this community. I’m beginning to see such hurt and brokenness all around. Everywhere.
This is not my calling, or is it?….I’m impatient. And prideful. And don’t know how to relate to sick or hurting or dying or poor or mentally missing. We went through the yucks with dad and I still don’t know what to say or how to act around the sick or hurting or dying or poor or mentally missing. Maybe it’s not my job to know what to say or how to act. Maybe I just show up and love.
My sweet little bubble of easy is bursting.
The community and church we left was pretty and had a nice bow ties neatly and tight to keep the mess tucked away.
But instead of thinking about me…what if it’s about them? The sick or hurting or dying or poor or mentally missing.
Can I consider the brokenness around me? Can I identify them and be broken with them? And petition God for them? Can I be open to how God want me to respond? Can you? Are you broken too?
Psalm 34:17-18
The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.
He hears. He heals. He’s there. He shows up.
We are here for a reason…maybe for now, we just need to show up and be broken right along with them.
Maybe we need to just love…
Yes!
Showing up!
Loving!
That is where we all start. ??
You know the one thing that got me thru some of the times when I thought about just giving up in the last couple of years? Loving others. Helping them in whatever way they needed. Maybe sometimes it was barely anything I was able to do but be there so they weren’t lonely. Maybe it was a meal. Maybe it was washing and folding clothes for the homeless. Maybe it was assembling the resources I had access to just to bring Christmas to some people who wouldn’t have had it otherwise. But really all I did was just show up and love. And damn if it didn’t do me more good than probably them. It turned my whole outlook around, made my Christmas and grew Jackie & I together as friends. Do whatever you can, Tiff. It will be remembered fondly regardless. ?❤️
This is really beautiful. Sounds like an amazing small body of Christ right there!! What a joy and privilege to be with them!
Love this “My sweet little bubble of easy is bursting.”
God bless and thanks for linking up with Grace & Truth this week!