16 June 2009

This is Christian courage

One of my husband’s sheep—a retired teacher, unrelentingly kind—arrived at my door a few mornings ago. She came carrying a lunch casserole and games for the kids. “Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked. And as I could only stand around bug-eyed, she took the initiative, embraced the infant, and plunged with the older kids into her bag of tricks.

After emerging from my shock, I got all my laundry folded and PUT AWAY. People, this is in so many ways weird, but I’ll take it.

I’ll also formally recommend to you that woman as a model of Christian bravery. Kindness is unsafe, and rarely practiced outside of our affirming social circles. It took guts for that blessed sheep to offer help, however humble, to someone she barely knows, and to do so out of love. It was good for me to humble myself, however nervously, to receive it. We both benefited, just as it was promised to us all.

Women of God, when you give of yourselves in even the meekest of ways to your sisters in Christ, what you give is good. Take courage and fight! We testify to the kingdom when we physically share the burden of another's blessings and sorrows, and the King is coming soon.

deeds carried as precious myrrh . . . *

*Cautiously: I've mentioned before how I feel about invoking the saints. Regardless, acknowledging them and looking to their example is a good given all Christians. Don't let the Orthodox have all the fun--be orthodox (and catholic)! But go ahead and skip the prayer in that link.

8 comments:

lisa said...

"promised" - Romans 12 - one of my favourite passages.
I've been spending a lot of time with my g'ma lately and - while I know she's in my close circle - spellbound at how the love and guidance of strong older Christian women speaks to me of Christ in a way that makes me more of a woman and more of a daughter :)

I'm so glad she was brave :)
And I'm glad you were too :)

Christine said...

One of my regrets is that I didn't use my time before children to help out moms like you. My work schedule was light enough to permit it, but my self-pity at being unable to have my own children made me unwilling to give of myself to women who had, from my perspective, already achieved my dream.

I'm glad you were blessed today!

MooreMama said...

Gauntlets, if we were closer, DH and I would totally come get your gaggle and feed them all lollypops and cotton candy while you cleaned.

I'm glad that your husband has good sheep.

ζωὴν περισσὸν said...

That is wonderful, Gauntlets!

Thank you for posting this, it is so very timely for me just now and so very encouraging.

Dawn said...

Lisa: grandmas take courage, too. I miss mine.

Christine: you totally understand. :)

MM: I'd do the same for you any day.

Pam: :)

MooreMama said...

Gauntlets - So long as you don't give her any Cool Whip.

Dawn said...

:D

That stuff in that there fft-fft can is FOOD!

Reb. Mary said...

If the Nice Brave Lady feels like a roadtrip, just send her my way, would ya?