I have this friend. He's blind and deaf. And unfortunately he has no one. No family around to care. I visit him sometimes. Every time I see him is just like the first time I saw him. Heartbreaking. I met him a little over a year ago. Sometimes when I visit, I try not to cry, sometimes I know he wouldn't see or hear my despair anyway. Sometimes I think about what goes on in his head. Sometimes it's too painful to think about.
My friend is in a dark, quiet place in his head. A pit. His only means of communication is when you write letters in his hand, spelling out words. This means you keep it short. Only say important things. Because it sure would take a while to even tell him about the weather. Would he even care about the weather? Maybe he would because it's one of those things that you feel. You don't necessarily have to see or hear the weather. You feel the wind, or sunshine, on your face.
I think about Jesus, and how He only spoke with purpose. He didn't talk just to talk. So many of us, myself included, talk just to fill the quiet. I know I need to do that less. A lot less if I'm honest.
This friend of mine, has nothing, but quiet. And only one way that I can fill it.
I wish I could say that I thought about it, but honestly I didn't. I picked up his hand, and wrote in it three words. Jesus loves you. That's what I always write in his hand when I go to visit him. Typically I don't say that to friends when I leave them, but I should. That's what I'd like to leave everyone with.
This wasn't profound to me, until just the other day. I was praying about him. You see, I don't know a lot of his history. So I don't know where his family is. I don't know if he knew God. I don't know any of that. So on this particular day, he was really pulling at my heart, and I prayed. I prayed that God would reach him. Out of nowhere, I felt the spirit say "I do, with you." I felt like my heart could burst. I never thought of that. Not once. In all the times I have seen my friend, I never gave it thought. I just thought if I had to keep my words minimal, with purpose, what should I say? Jesus loves you is the obvious answer. Never did it dawn on me that God was actually using me, to reach my friend.
In the pit. In the never ending dark, and quiet. This man is still being told he is loved by God.
Luke 12:6 says 'Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.' God is saying, no matter where you are. In whatever pit you find yourself, He is there.
Sometimes when we are in a pit, it feels like we will be there forever. I'm sure Joseph felt that way. After all, he was in his pit day after day, year after year, until God gave pharaoh a dream, which finally reminded a cupbearer, of Joseph.
Sometimes we find ourselves in a pit of our own making. We give way to sin, and it seems to have no bottom. Or we have been there too long, to think we even deserve to get out. Thankfully it's not about us. Or what we deserve. God loves us anyway. When you find yourself in the pit, whatever form it may come in, look up. Because you can bet, he's looking down. He knows right where you are, He still pursues you. He may not send someone to write J-E-S-U-S L-O-V-E-S Y-O-U on your hand, but I bet if you stop and pray, you will feel Him write it on your heart.
My friend is in a dark, quiet place in his head. A pit. His only means of communication is when you write letters in his hand, spelling out words. This means you keep it short. Only say important things. Because it sure would take a while to even tell him about the weather. Would he even care about the weather? Maybe he would because it's one of those things that you feel. You don't necessarily have to see or hear the weather. You feel the wind, or sunshine, on your face.
I think about Jesus, and how He only spoke with purpose. He didn't talk just to talk. So many of us, myself included, talk just to fill the quiet. I know I need to do that less. A lot less if I'm honest.
This friend of mine, has nothing, but quiet. And only one way that I can fill it.
I wish I could say that I thought about it, but honestly I didn't. I picked up his hand, and wrote in it three words. Jesus loves you. That's what I always write in his hand when I go to visit him. Typically I don't say that to friends when I leave them, but I should. That's what I'd like to leave everyone with.
This wasn't profound to me, until just the other day. I was praying about him. You see, I don't know a lot of his history. So I don't know where his family is. I don't know if he knew God. I don't know any of that. So on this particular day, he was really pulling at my heart, and I prayed. I prayed that God would reach him. Out of nowhere, I felt the spirit say "I do, with you." I felt like my heart could burst. I never thought of that. Not once. In all the times I have seen my friend, I never gave it thought. I just thought if I had to keep my words minimal, with purpose, what should I say? Jesus loves you is the obvious answer. Never did it dawn on me that God was actually using me, to reach my friend.
In the pit. In the never ending dark, and quiet. This man is still being told he is loved by God.
Luke 12:6 says 'Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.' God is saying, no matter where you are. In whatever pit you find yourself, He is there.
Sometimes when we are in a pit, it feels like we will be there forever. I'm sure Joseph felt that way. After all, he was in his pit day after day, year after year, until God gave pharaoh a dream, which finally reminded a cupbearer, of Joseph.
Sometimes we find ourselves in a pit of our own making. We give way to sin, and it seems to have no bottom. Or we have been there too long, to think we even deserve to get out. Thankfully it's not about us. Or what we deserve. God loves us anyway. When you find yourself in the pit, whatever form it may come in, look up. Because you can bet, he's looking down. He knows right where you are, He still pursues you. He may not send someone to write J-E-S-U-S L-O-V-E-S Y-O-U on your hand, but I bet if you stop and pray, you will feel Him write it on your heart.
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