Sunday, December 23, 2007

business

perspective is something we hold dear from years of hospital visits.
for there has has never been a time when the bed next door was
not occupied by someone in greater need of medical and emotional
attention.
in icu, the boy next to us was on 24/7 asthma treatments
-honor's are every 3 hours-his, round the clock.
the tiny 3 yr old girl across was just in a fire with her whole family. her sister
is next door and her mom was in the hospital, but died a few weeks ago.
and she doesn't know yet.

At every transfusion, a child next to ezra had cancer or thallesemia
and the life expectancy is 45 yrs. for that blood disorder.....
so
perspective and knowledge of the Lord's grace.

the need is what resonates the most to me...
the boy next to us, tv on 24/7

-mom right there will him on couch
exhausted herself with 6 kids at home-but no interaction really.
talked a bit, but mostly, tv.

he needed to play games, cards and be read
to.....when she left to go home for a few days,
i turned off his tv and gave him our books (jesus storybook bible etc)
he 'read' them (he is 5) and spoke outloud and pretended for an hour.
the girl who lost her mom cries out for her mommy to
hold her every night. .
her community are coming in and holding her and praying
for her which is beautiful to see.
but so many are alone. the need is great there
-to be talked to and played with.....


I read a Christmas Carol every Winter.
and it rings true, like the clanging of a church bell on Christmas Day,
that my big heart for mercy
is merely wasted emotion without big, bold action to strike forward towards.....
and small, sacrificial, time consuming steps to spend time and physically give to others in need...
but it is my business, isn't it?
"But you were always a good man of business,Jacob," faltered Scrooge.
"Business!" cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. "Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance,and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"

2 comments:

Caroline said...

AMC, my dear and generous friend who gives and gives even when there's precious little...we all are Scrooges, I am most especially. I love your heart, which is so soft. Miss you all this Christmas, and praising God for the grace, healing and miracles that I was so desperate for one year ago. You were Jesus to me - you and Scott and Ezra and Honor - all in your own unique and beautiful ways last year. Thank you, thank you, thank you always - and "God bless us, everyone." xooxoxo Aunty Caroline

Anonymous said...

where oh where as Anne gone?