So many things have been on my heart and mind that I thought I'd spill them out here so I can clear room for other things... so here's what I'm thinking about today:
Many of you know that my friend, Virginia, is in her final days on this earth. I consider Virginia to be a dear friend. God has taught me so much about
Himself through my friendship with Virginia. At the same time, I also
know that Virginia is ready to meet her Savior. She has lived a great
life and had an amazing ministry. I am ready for her to hear Jesus say
"well done, faithful servant, enter into my rest." When I visit her, I
imagine that her mind and heart are with Jesus, but her body still
lingers. I pray often for her to be set free from a broken body that
holds her captive... freedom that will allow her to once again play the
piano for God's glory and honor.
Just this morning, I was reflecting on my relationship with Virginia
and asking myself why I continue to visit her daily, even though I am
convinced that she doesn't really know that I'm there. I came up with
these reasons:
1) I want Carol, who is Virginia's best friend, to know that she is not
alone in her love and care for this precious woman. I want to speak
words of encouragement and compassion to Carol and others who come to
visit.... Caring for the caregiver, I guess.
2) God keeps teaching me something new about Him when I visit Virginia. I
sit and read scripture and it's amazing how differently I see it when I
consider His Word in the presence of one who is about to leave this
world and enter His presence! It was encouraging this past week when I
read a devotional on John 14:1-3 - "“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And
if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to
be with me that you also may be where I am." --- It was noted that JESUS
HIMSELF will come to take us to where He is..... He's not sending an
angel to do it. He's making the trip to get each of us Himself. I love
that... I imagine Jesus coming to get Virginia and take her home to the
place He has prepared especially for her.. no doubt, it has the grandest
of grand pianos. :)
3) Virginia's ministry still continues and I love to hear the stories.
CNA's who cared for her at Wesley Village are coming to visit because
she has made a difference in their lives. A CNA from the floor where she
spent her first 5 days at St. Joe's after her stroke has come to the
hospice floor to visit. In those 5 short days, Virginia developed a
relationship with that young lady. She came to tell Miss Virginia that
she and her husband had started going to church together again..... God
is allowing me the privilege of seeing just a few bites of the fruit of
Virginia's labors for Him.
Certainly, my heart has been heavy in recent days, but Virginia's
pending home-going in not a source of sorrow, but of joy. My greater
sorrows are for my young friends who may be in
grave danger... and for my best friend, who has isolated herself
from those who love her most... and I fear may have a clouded view of
who she is in God's eyes.
Sorrow struck me yesterday when I saw a video
that ridiculed "stupid criminals" who were the butt of a media joke
because they got stuck in the mud making their getaway. One of the two
young men wept openly at his situation as he realized that this newest
strike on his record was sending him down a path he didn't want to
travel... and I wept too because I wanted to know where the people were
who should have been helping him to know that there were better choices
available for him... that he, too, has a Savior who has redeemed his
life, but is anyone telling this young man that truth? Sorrow struck me as I
watch a few moments (that's all I could take) of a show on TV that
featured homes that were outrageously extravagant.... a bathroom where
just the tiles cost over $100,000 dollars... I had to walk away and weep
because I couldn't imagine how God must feel when His children are
homeless, helpless and hungry in the midst of all this.
If I were a superhero, my super human strength this week would be
"hyper sensitivity" ... I read news stories and witness things myself
that are devastating. And all I know how to do is cry and pray. And I
want to do more than that... I want to be an answer to the prayers I
lift. I want to do a better job of being sensitive to God's voice when
He invites me into the things He's doing. I want to stop and share words
of comfort with the man in the hallway at the hospital who is clearly
distraught over the condition of his loved one... instead of looking
away so as not to embarrass him in the midst of his own sorrows. I want
to do more, not because it earns me a merit badge, but because it's what
will bring honor to my Father in Heaven.
So that, in a rather large nutshell, is what is on my heart today. How about you? Can I help to carry your burden to the throne of Jesus?
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