yesterday after we stood on a bridge, over a big pond, telling the story of the healing of Naaman in the Jordan River (2 Kings 5:1-15)
we asked our sunday school 6th graders if they wanted to be missionaries
"yes" they said, their eyes filled with questions
so we got out the construction paper, crayons and markers
because anyone who tells someone about Christ...
or shows someone the love of Christ...
is a missionary
our neighbor is gravely ill and in the hospital after surgery
she took a taxi to the hospital...i only know this because she called to ask us to retrieve her mail
no family or friends...just me {a neighbor 6 houses away} who visits she and her service dog, Missy
i told the kids that her healing, unlike Naaman's, will probably be Christ coming to take her to heaven soon
the words hung in the air as hands grasped crayons and children started drawing
i thought about another neighbor who is dying too soon
"absent from the body, present with the Lord"(2 Corinthians 5:8)...but the in-between can be so hard, Lord, I thought to myself
"Dear Delores,
I hope you stay faithful with God. Please stay rejoiceful because paradise is in front of you.
love, Bryce"
"God is with you, Delores!" love, Maddy
"For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. Romans 10:10 love, Erin"
i brought the cards to Delores today and pray the children's words comfort
pray that God's Word gives peace
i find it amazing that most of the children {who are, by the way, every bit your average pre-teens} immediately looked towards the good news of eternal life to comfort the dying
not many "get well soons"...
mostly a sense of "soon you will see the face of God!"
sometimes inspiration comes from unexpected places
and makes an ordinary classroom
in an ordinary church
holy ground
8 comments:
You are such a blessing and a wonderful teacher.
Fills my eyes with tears. What sweetness.
If only we could have the faith of a child.
Tears are in my eyes. One of my students said good-bye to his own mother yesterday. He is in the sixth grade. His classmates, did much of the same thing today, wrote him cards reminding him without being preachy that God loves him, and is ultimately in control. You will be blessed by the seeds of faithfulness that were planted in these young ones this weekend.
really beautiful, cathy. the people in your community are lucky to have you. ((H))
I hope this sweet gesture was a comfort to your neighbor. I'm saddened to hear that she is mostly alone in this world.
How you touched me today with this.
you inspire with something that truly is simple and yet is profound.
God's hands & feet...
you are!
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