My day started today before it officially started. Does that ever happen to you? Not being a morning person means that I usually get up, make the bed, do a little tidying, and then have coffee, breakfast, and my quiet time. I’m not really ready for “prime time” until after all that happens.
If you’re a morning person, you may not be able to identify,
but bear with me to hear the rest of the story.
My cell phone signaled a text just as I was waking up. Normally, I do not look at my phone until after the “official” start of the day, but today was different. It was a message letting me know my sweet friend Laura’s grandfather had slipped quietly into heaven.
Laura is the daughter of a dear friend who was in my adult Bible study class for many years. God chose to put us together through Laura’s struggle with a difficult pregnancy and the subsequent loss of one of her triplets after only a few hours of life. Laura is very precious to me, and her friendship is a treasure and blessing. For someone so young, she has come face to face with much death in a short space of time.
First her infant son, then a grandfather, her father, and just this past week, her remaining grandfather. I always have the impression that when I comfort Laura, she brings me comfort for personal losses I have not yet expressed.
We have shared many happy times as well—her children’s birthdays, trips, holidays, and of course, Christmas. We talk about life, good times, hardships, and family—the stuff of life. We connect at a deep level when she has decisions to make, questions about faith, and other life choices.
God, in His great compassion and mercy, has made a way for His children to comfort one another. In these cases, we are “Jesus with skin on.” We are the arms of God, embracing others, sharing their pain, and reminding them of His love. We are His feet when we attend funeral services, take food, mow lawns, and care for details that grieving loved ones simply cannot handle at the moment. We are the hands of God when we draw someone near, look into their faces, tell them we love them, and that we are committed to being there as long as it takes for them to stand on their own.
Have you ever observed someone who has just composed himself, only to burst into fresh tears at the sight of a friend’s arrival? It’s the power of connection—the live cord of compassion and caring that bonds us with another’s pain. You’ve seen people at the hospital cry out with relief when a close friend, pastor, or family member arrives. The connection is palpable; they know things will be better, easier with that special person close at hand. Sometimes a hug says everything that needs to be said.
So often, we long to do great things for Jesus, things that matter not only for today but eternity. We look at others with wonderful gifts and abilities and long to be used in a way that will bless others as they do. But much of life is just about “showing up.” It’s simply being there for someone else, lightening the load, sharing grief, and rejoicing over good news. Many people within your sphere of influence need a word of encouragement, a word of wise counsel, or simply an acknowledgement of their contribution to your life. Why not make it a priority every day to connect in a way that enriches the life of someone you care about? This is ministry. This is the power of connection.
About the Writer: Former magazine editor Norma J. Goldman enjoys a successful writing career in her retirement from her home near Houston, Texas.
