Merry Christmas! This is the time of year when material wants get confused with the deeper longings of the human heart, when giving and receiving gifts gets jumbled up with giving and receiving the love. This year has been a year full of waiting for the deeper longings, a year of needing love in the broken places. It has been a year of that for myself and for many of in my community.
The gift of a loving community is not something I take for granted. It is something for which I give thanks on a daily basis. Recently I have walked alongside many people who are in places of grief, loneliness, and fear of the unknown. These same people have walked with me as well in places of loss and confusion. What a gift that has no monetary value! It is a gift to walk with others in deep places. When people invite me into their personal spaces, my own faith and love are allowed to grow.
A new parent and single mom at our school (LACS) has had some health scares the past few weeks. I happened to be in a place where her need was tangible and she allowed me to step in and help. She was scared, in severe amounts of pain and was headed for the bus when we crossed paths. After a frustrating visit at a clinic that gave her the run around, we were able to find help from another person on staff on next steps. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to us, another mom from the school was preparing dinner for them and yet another was helping her kids finish up homework. Not one of us knew all that this dear lady was facing but the Lord saw her. He allowed all of us to come together and receive a gift of being with her and seeing the kindness of the Lord over her and her family.
This is only one small story of so many more. Our community is full of love, and care and many of us stay with each other in the deep places. There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus sees our needs. He came to us from the perfect trinitarian community and yet He never tried to meet His own needs. He always relied on the Spirit and His Father as He walked on earth. I am thankful to be a part of a community which teaches me to rely on the Lord and one another.