Something Beautiful

Something beautiful happened for me last night. 

A couple of individual I don’t actually know, but that know my parents, blessed my family with a gift.  These people have been following our journey with Big over the past few weeks and wanted to show us their love and concern.

One person, a momma of her own little, is an independent consultant for some pampering products.  She sent a bag full of samples of soaps and scrubs, lotions and bath soaks with my mom and dad for Big, Little and I to use.  I have never met this sweet sister in Christ, but she cared for me in a real way.  She took what she had and used it to bless me.  She allowed herself to be the Church.

Another couple, again one that I don’t even know, sent cash with my parents for us.  They knew that even with insurance there is travel and meals on the road and medicines and copays and that for many, that becomes a struggle.  This gift touched me more than I can express.  I had to travel for work last weekend, and while I will be reimbursed, I had to spend money for a hotel room and food on the road and gas… and added to that were the trips with Big to the hospital and the meals on the way there and back… and we have her surgery follow up on Monday.  I knew we had the wiggle room for the gas to get there, but I didn’t have it to get lunch on the way home (We were just going to pack lunches) and I was PRAYING my reimbursement check would arrive Monday because I would probably need to fill up my gas tank for work on Tuesday.  I get paid Wednesday, so it was just going to be a couple of tight days and I knew we could make it.  But then this gift was given to me and all that worry had been for nothing because these people were the Church and listened to what had to have been the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and met my need. They chose to be the Church.

I have always LOVED the Church.  Not the building, that isn’t what I mean, but the people.  And not necessarily just the people I currently worship with, I mean the CHURCH, all the believers everywhere.  I have been blessed to live in various states and countries and meet believers from all around our globe.  I know our Church isn’t perfect, and I guess I don’t expect it to be.  I mean, if they are going to let ME in, perfection is out the door because I KNOW I am not perfect. 

But I love the Church.  I love it because Jesus did.  He loved it so much he died to make it His bride.  Have you ever noticed a groom as he watches his bride walk down the aisle on their wedding day?  His love is so evident.  And that is how Jesus loves us and looks at us. 

I know society can rant and rave on social media about the church being full of hypocrites.  And again, I know its true because I am a hypocrite and they let me in.  I teach Big and Little the words of the Bible, but I don’t always live them.  I sing songs like “I Surrender ALL” in the pew at church and then hold on to my girl with my clenched fists when I think Jesus might ask for full surrender.  I teach Sunday school classes to the kids about forgiving one another and carry a grudge against a coworker or my husband.  The church is full of hypocrites because it is full.  The only way to remedy that is to get rid of all the people.

But this weekend the Church showed me her beauty.  She met my needs.  She loved.  And She loved well.  Ephesians 5: 1-2 says, “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”  And this weekend the Church did.  Others sacrificed to give to me. 

And 1 John 4:7-8 says “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”  I don’t know the people that gave to me, but I know they knew Jesus simply because they gave.

I need to stop “playing church” and remember to #BeTheChurch!  How often has the Spirit nudged me to show love, and I have “shushed” it because I didn’t want to be bothered, or chose to be selfish rather than generous, or chose to love myself instead of following God’s example and walking in the way of love.  I don’t want to be that person.  I want to be the person who hears the whisper of the Spirit and responds, like these people did when they blessed me.

Guess what, my reimbursement check came today.  I have no idea how when I didn’t get my expenses submitted until Tuesday.  It shouldn’t have some so quickly.  And now I have the opportunity to #BeTheChurch.  I know a sweet family whose grown son didn’t dodge the cancer bullet the way Big did.  I used to babysit for this boy, now grown into a man.  And I can #BeTheChurch to his sweet family.  You can to.  If you want to #BeTheChurch for them, here isa link to a shirt fundraiser they are having. 

Together, we can show we know God by loving like Him.  We can stop playing church and instead #BeTheChurch

If you find a way to #BeTheChurch, please use the hashtag on social media.  Let’s start something  beautiful.