Reach Out and Touch

As humans living in an unfriendly world, we can be tempted to become hermits hibernating in our domiciles. But the Lord called us a body, the Body of Christ. We carry the Holy Spirit and the power of God in our mouths, hands and feet. We are supposed to carry the Spirit to the hurting and not to hide out in our homes.

Yesterday I bagged up a few veggies from my garden to take to an elder widow who lives next door to our tiny Post Office. It was not a big gift, but I know how lonely I get so I wanted to drop by and touch base with her.The veggies were an excuse to drop by.

I called her as I was about to drive over to the Post Office. She was so surprised that I was calling her because she had just picked up the phone to dial me.

After telling her my plans I made my way to check my mail. Finding nothing I headed next door. Her little dog met me at the door barking his delight and her sweet smile was a welcome sunny place in my day.

She shared a huge answer to prayer and we chatted for an hour. She recalled the stages of mourning she had experienced and how God had sent a couple from her church home to plant flowers in her yard. They had been so saddened at her devastation in losing her husband. They told her they wanted to see her smile again. It had been a turning place in her mourning. She had cried all day, everyday for almost a year.

She has buried three husbands in her 80+ years. I can't even fathom that kind of strength. Her first husband died of a massive coronary, 12 years later her second died of cancer, and the last one of Alzheimer's.

As she recalled the time when her friends from church came and planted flowers, I found myself weeping. My little offering of vegetables had been a point of connection on that day. My garden has been my place of mindless refuge in my widowhood. It has been my solace and sharing its bounty my delight. I remember thinking I would never live through my loss, and here it's been almost ten months and I'm still quite alive.

I know the Lord told us we comfort one another with the comfort we receive. Here we were sharing our losses, our healing and the Comforter.

I hadn't set out to minister or to be ministered to. I simply knew she missed having a garden and missed fresh vegetables. The anointing of God, the balm of Giliad, flowed between us. She gave to me comfort she had received and I to her. The exchange that happens between believers was precious and healing! All it took was a little willingness to reach out and touch.






- love never fails.