Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Come Sit Awhile with Me

One day my husband had to leave the house before 6:40 a.m. for an all-day meeting. Knowing James prefer oatmeal than donuts, I got up to fix breakfast. While cooking, lots of thoughts went through my mind.

Just oatmeal. I'm sleepy. Scrambled eggs? James would love that. Tired. May be I will go back to bed once he starts eating. Oh, asparagus that I already washed on Sunday ... It would be good to just sit with him for awhile.

James obviously enjoyed his breakfast. Suddenly, he looked up and said, "Thanks for getting up early and fixing breakfast. I so appreciate you eating with me. Do you know that in the song You Raise Me Up, the phrase 'Come and Sit Awhile with Me' always moves me? It means so much that you sit with me, even just for 15 minutes. I know you are tired."

My eyes got moist. "Thanks. I was tired. Part of me did not want to get up. Part of me just wanted to get breakfast done and go back to sleep. I wasn't ready to eat. But I wanted to sit awhile with you. Now you are telling me the same thing. Come Sit Awhile with me. I actually thought about that."

"Glad to hear. Now I can see that every week when we just sit, talk, sing or walk with Mom, we are giving her a gift."

Human beings yearn for belonging and connection. Every person needs a friend who would listen, or sit, fish, or play basketball with. Caring is not just feeling sorry for someone when bad things happen. Caring is not just doing things for family members out of duty. As followers of Christ, we can learn how to joyously help people by being there. CARE requires being Compassionate, Accepting, Respectful, and Empathetic. As followers of Christ, we already have a new life. With the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we can all become encouraging helpers, like brother Barnabas, by the grace of God.

Saturday, October 1, 2016

Let Them Know You Care!

What did you do when you heard news like the recent bombing in New York and the train crash in New Jersey? For many of us, we called or texted our loved ones who live or work around there, and we prayed and waited.

I remember one late night prayer request from a sister in our care group:

“So and so just called. Her mother is in ER now and … not breathing. She is crying … just ask us to pray for her.”

My heart sank. I was physically exhausted and needed to go to bed, and I had a few long days ahead. What could I do? Pray!

Moments later, there was a message from the sister herself, “Thanks for your prayer. Here is updated info of my mother ... ICU … I will trust in Lord totally … Peace be with us!”

I gave thanks to God and sent a short note. Another sister wrote, “May I go to the hospital to see you and your mom tomorrow” and to the rest of us, “Dear Sisters, Can any one of you come with me tomorrow to the hospital to see her and her mom? … In the mean time, let all of our prayers to be with her and we pray that her mom is in God’s perfect protection.”

I felt disappointed that I could not visit the hospital, but I was comforted by our community of believers caring for one another. I'm grateful for the Body of Christ.