Missed you this morning. How are things and is there anything we can do for you today?
This message came through from my dear mother Sunday morning after I’d missed another Sunday church morning because I just needed to sleep after another week of insanity. I’d only been awake so long, and I was nursing my coffee at the table while my baby who had been glued to me since 4am babbled happily. Inwardly, I was conflicted about missing church again, but the reality is that sometimes things have to give so that you don’t break down completely.
I was also facing the last day of the weekend and still had quite a list of things I needed to accomplish before Monday morning. I would love it if you could come over sometime today and play with the baby so I can work on my list, I replied.
The answer came back: What time?
No hesitation. Just action. We set a time and she and my dad came over and jumped right into the mess, playing with the baby and helping me with my tasks. And at the end of the day, I’d finished what I needed to do, my kids were happy, and my brain was a lot more quiet than it had been first thing that morning over coffee.
That’s the power of a village.
And yes, they are my mom and dad. It seems logical that they’d show up for their daughter, but not all parents are that willing to jump into the mess like that. What’s important is that there is someone in your life who is.
In Luke chapter 5, there is a story that has come up around me several times recently. Luke records the story of a paralyzed man whose friends bring him to Jesus to be healed. They find a packed house with no path to Jesus, but they decide that isn’t going to stop them. They go up to the roof of the house and dig until there’s a hole big enough to let their friend down on his bed, right in front of Jesus. Verse 20 says this: “When Jesus saw their faith, He said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven.’”
Did you catch that? “When Jesus saw their faith.” Not the paralyzed man’s faith alone. The faith of his friends. He healed the man because his friends had enough faith to not give up until they got him to Jesus. They exemplified a village, showing up and doing what it took to help out.
The people you surround yourself with matter. They will either bring you closer to Jesus or take you further away from Him. They will either help you or hinder you. Proverbs 25:13 (Message Remix) says: “Reliable friends who do what they say are like cool drinks in sweltering heat–refreshing!”
I’m thankful that I have a village nearby to jump in when I’m struggling. And I’m blessed to be a refreshing part of others’ villages when they are struggling. We need each other, especially when times are hard and we need to be pointed back to Jesus.
Don’t have a village? Pray about finding one, and who you can be there for. God will provide for sure. And sometimes it’s just as simple as checking in by text, showing up to be present, and letting your faith carry someone else for a time.
Blessings,
~Lynne
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