This past week has been less than fun. Abby has been genuinely sick for the first time, not just afflicted by food allergies. I have been playing nurse for 24/almost 7. Abby has run a fairly consistent high fever almost nonstop until yesterday, and she has been very emotionally fragile. Every moment of it has been heartbreaking to me. My "nursing self" knows logically that the full body rash she now has is a good sign that this virus is ending and that her body is fighting it off, but my "mommy self" hates seeing my child suffer- even on a minor level.
As I was holding Abby this morning and watching her fitfully try to fall asleep, I was saddened. God, in the quiet whisper He often uses in my heart, spoke to me about an area I have become quite shamefully hardened on. He pointed out that as much as it makes me sad to see Abby sick for a short time when I know she will get better- how much more grievous must it be for the moms all around the world right now who are watching their babies breathe their last breaths all because they did not have enough food, water, or basic medical care! The horrible thing about it is that in my heart I care more about "stuff" than preventing that from occurring. Just because I cannot see their faces, I rationalize why I am not the one who should be responsible for them. I excuse myself from caring, because I can distance myself from their pain and suffering in my air-conditioned home with every luxury dispensable.
At this point, you're probably convicted and finding plenty of excuses too.
It's true. Jesus tells us to care for the poor and to have radical abandonment to the Gospel. My Bible doesn't have excuses for people like us.
May we become selfless givers for global missions so that Jesus will be lifted high... so more moms get to keep their babies in their arms a little longer... so more babies get to grow up into adults who care about Jesus and love others too.
The bottomline is we will stand before Jesus one day and give an account of all we have or have not done for His name's sake.
33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:33-46
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