He Comes to Help

 

I always wanted to be a mother, so when I was pregnant with our first, I was more than delighted. Nine months of anticipation was a wonderful time for us.

Nothing could have prepared me for what would lie ahead – a colicky baby. She cried from the early morning until way after midnight. We would walk the floors, and rock her gently, at times even wheel her in the house in her stroller.

We were exhausted beyond belief and felt most inadequate to be parents, feeling sorry for the little one to be stuck with us.

Then we took the ride from Massachusetts to New Jersey to visit my husband’s aunt. Little did we know the blessing we would receive during that visit.

Even in the middle of the night, she would scoop our baby up from the little crib, change her, give her a bottle and put her back when she was asleep.

Not only did she make us feel welcomed and taken care of, she provided the break we needed. She walked our little one, almost making it seem so easy to calm her down. She knew all about colic and for the first time in months, we had someone who truly understood what we were experiencing.

She was the breath of fresh air, understanding, and love we so needed. The gift of feeling we would be OK, we would make it, and come through.

The memories flooded back the other day as I read in Luke 7. Here we read of two people who had come to Jesus.

A centurion had a servant who was sick and about to die. Sending some elders to ask Jesus to come for he had heard of the miracles Jesus had performed. But then he tells Jesus not to come all the way into the house but to just speak the word from where Jesus was and he knew his servant would be healed. Jesus was moved by his faith and healed the servant.

Soon afterward, as Jesus was coming into another town, a dead man was being carried out. He was the only son of a widow who was crying in her grief. Jesus was moved and raised her son to life.

It’s this verse which has my attention the last few days:

“They were all filled with awe and praised God.
“A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said.
“God has come to help his people.”
(Luke 7:15, NIV)

Jesus saw and recognized the struggles of the people around Him. He didn’t chastise them, or tell them what they could have done better.

He simply came alongside and helped them.

Those days spent in the home of our aunt, she was such a display of the love of Jesus. She just wanted to help us. And she did. She fed us, she took care of our baby, and she gave us the chance to rest. To breathe. To feel normal and be restored.

And that is so like Jesus.
He simply comes to help His people.
May we be more like Jesus.

 

Reflection:
Have you ever received the simplest of acts which were the greatest help? Are you in need of help today? How can I be praying for you today?

 

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash