Beary Loved

ByLyli

I am a woman set free.  A ten-day hospital stay was not on my list of activities for the month of May, but my body did not cooperate.  The surgery had complications, and my kidneys decided to take an extended vacation that required  IV therapy and doctoral consultations.  After several days of being pinched and pawed, my anemic self started to feel isolated and trapped.   Thankfully, my friends and family hovered near — calling out to me, praying for me, supporting our family.  Teddy bears and flowers, phone calls and text messages, Get Well cards and e-mails — all became lifelines wooing me back to hope and healing.  

I don’t know if you have ever experienced a period of isolation and trial — one where your life is cut open, and your normal becomes praying that God will help you take one more breath.  I hope that has never happened to you.  But, if it has, I pray that God sends you the human hug that He sent me through His people loving me back to life.

Yesterday, as I was digging “Into the Word,” I realized that Paul understood exactly what I had experienced through the love of God’s people.  From a  prison cell, He wrote:

 May the Lord grant mercy

to the household of Onesiphorus,

because he often refreshed me

and was not ashamed of my chains.

On the contrary, when he was in Rome,

he diligently searched for me and found me.

May the Lord grant

that he obtain mercy from Him on that day.

And you know very well

how much he ministered at Ephesus.

I don’t know about you, but I want to be an Onesiphorus  — one who refreshes a weary, imprisoned heart.  Onesiphorus did not allow public opinion or personal preferences to deter him from ministering to a needy brother.  He zealously sought out a friend in need and did not stand idly by.

Q4U:  Who in your circle of influence needs to know that they are “beary loved”?  Is there someone you need to call?

Every Monday we will be working our way through Anne Graham Lotz’s 52-week study “Into the Word.”    Hop on over to the 3dLessons4Life Blog Facebook Page to join us as we dig into God’s Word together.

Linking up with a like-minded sisters at Allume, Faith Filled Friday, Thought Provoking Thursdays, God -Bumps and God-Incidences, Soli Deo Gloria @ Finding Heaven and “Hear it on Sunday, Use it on Monday!” 

Photo Credit

19 Comments

  3. Yes, what a huge blessing those friends and family members are, gathering around! And the prayers! Those have more power than we often give them credit for. Thank you for sharing this blessing, and may God bless you with increasing health.

    Reply

  4. So glad you are home. Wow. No, I can’t say I’ve had that experience of normal being praying for your next breath. Sure puts things into perspective for me. And it reminds me how important our relationships are. Thank you for prompting me to consider those special people around me.

    Reply

    1. I have a whole new perspective on how important it is to be “present” for each other. So thankful for our church family who loved us “beary well” this past week!

      Reply

  5. So glad to read that you are feeling better and that God sent you friends who loved you well in your time of trial…linked up behind you at Michelle’s…Blessings and pray that you would have a complete recovery 🙂

    Reply

  6. Wow, girl. You’ve gone through a lot… I admire your faith and the way you continue to point to God through your trials. You really are an inspiration, my friend.

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Jennifer. I thought I had a little acid reflux, and it turned out to be quite a different story. I have been reminded that each day is a gift — not to squander.

      Reply

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