"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians3:12-17
Do you ever stop to think about the impact you have on other people's lives? Surely there are those that we recognize as we interact with them and see that we have impact. But there are others that we truly are unaware. The privilege is when those whose lives we have impacted turn around and have impact on ours.
This was the case for my husband and me in 2019. He was in the hospital having suffered a stroke and heart attack. Our world changed in that moment, and the questions of what our future held loomed heavily over head. As I sat in the hospital with him, prayer was my main focus. Seeking comfort in the Presence of my relationship with Christ kept the worry of the unknown away. Yet there were stll questions of uncertainty that pestered my spirit.On one particular evening when the heaviness of doubt was pressing hard against my soul, the Lord sent messengers of hope.
I had nodded off in the chair next to his hospital bed, when I heard someone clear their throat. A young woman who we have known for years stood in the doorway. When I invited her in, she laughed nervously, glancing back into the hallway.
"There's a few of us." she said. "I don't think we can all fit."
Getting up and going to the door, I looked out in the corrider. Lined up on either side was a group of the young people Dale had been leading in weekly Bible study.
Touched deeply by their love and concern, I thanked each of them and went to the nurses staion to see if their was a place we could all gather. The floor nurse quickly assessed the situation, found us a room and then went to get Dale to bring him in by wheel chair. The look on his face when he saw them and the nurses reaction to their reaction to him will always be a sweet and precious memory.
Several tears, lots of hugs, prayers and songs of worship filled the room for over 30 minutes. As I recount this sweet memory my heart is once again flooded with joy.
Life can tumble us pretty hard at times. The enemy of our souls works continually trying to steal, kill, and destroy the love, joy and peace that God wants us to have.
But God is greater.
Never under estimate the work that He is doing, even in trying times.
Celebrate His goodness at all times.
Pray without ceasing and share His love.
You never know when it will come back and wrap His loving arms around you.
May you find continual comfort and peace in His presence.
