Stretcher-Bearers Are the Hands and Feet of Jesus
“Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
The past seven weeks have been a blur. July 30th I had to take my husband to the ER because of confusion and breathing problem. Turns out he had pneumonia and over the next several days a series of mini-strokes that affected his sight and memory loss. After 5 days in a Critical Care Unit and multiple tests, they decided to move him where he could be seen by what turned out to be 8 different specialties. The night he was transferred he went into AFib and from that point on he began a downward spiral. A very long story short, he spent 25 days in two hospitals and he is slowly recovering at home with lots of physical, occupational, speech and vision therapies. We feel certain he will have a full recovery over the next several months, but it’s going to be a long process.
During this time we’ve experienced an outpouring of love from our faith community, friends, family, and Mike’s co-workers. Many came and visited, prayed, sent cards, provided meals and helped financially. Some of these folks bearly know us, but they felt called to help bear our burden.
While we were busy trying to find out what was going on so he could get better instead of the steady decline he was on, friends and family came by our side, not with solutions, but merely to sit with us in the ashes during those dark hours. We continue to find comfort in a shoulder to cry on and the solace of a hug.
One of our daughters spent the better part of those 25 days and our son gave up his vacation time to help us. What a blessing to know that our daughter’s church family was caring for her family back in AL so she could be with us. When we finally got to come home, our church family started providing meals 3 days a week – and they still are! We needed some immediate plumbing help at our house, and volunteers took care of that. If I need help getting Mike to Dr appointments or therapies, there are people waiting to help us. The hospital and the social worker assigned to us continue to be amazed at the support system we have. They said that this is not the norm.
It appears that as a society, we seem to have lost the ability to be stretcher-bearers for those who are hurting. Some might say, “Why should I visit this person?” “ I’m really not that close to them.” “I can’t do anything anyway. I don’t have anything to say. I’d only be in the way.”
We seem to have forgotten that it is often in “useless,” unpretentious, humble presence with one another that consolation and comfort are found.
To make ourselves available to someone in need is difficult because we are put in the position of being vulnerable to others and experiencing their weakness and powerlessness. We become part of the uncertainty and unknown and must yield control of knowing what to do in a situation. And yet, when we become stretcher-bearers, we see a new strength and hope are born in the hearts of those we comfort. And we can attest to the strength and hope that we have received from our stretcher-bearers!
By offering comfort and consolation, by just being there and staying with someone during those times of illness, mental anguish or spiritual darkness, a strange phenomenon often occurs. We grow close with the person and build a bond that is as strong as any blood ties, simply because we entered into the dark, uncharted waters with them.
Mike and I are humbly and eternally grateful to the stretcher-bearers in our lives right now. We can’t wait until he’s back on his feet so we can be the hands and feet of Jesus like these folks have been.
If you feel led to pray for us, I try and post updates at least 3 days a week on my Facebook page, Marsha’s Musings.
What a great picture of the family of God!
I will be sending prayers up from the Florida panhandle.
I am so glad to read that Mike is doing better. I am thankful for the people in your life, being the hands and feet of Jesus.
So glad to hear your hubby is on the road to recovery. It is just as difficult on those who are caring for them. Sometimes we just need people to come alongside and lift some of the burden, even if it’s just a meal, someone helping with housework or someone just simply sitting with us. So glad that you have seen Jesus Hands throughout this difficult season. (Hugs)