EMBRACED IN LOVE

I have a praise report to share with you! Last week’s reflection, DEEP CALLS TO DEEP,  is hopetoinspireyou.com’s 438th post that was published exactly NINE years to the date of the first reflection entitled AN EXPECTED PHONE CALL! I give God glory for providing weekly inspiration that started back on 9/5/2014 as a “test.” God is good and faithful in providing! I thank each of you for taking  time to read the reflections and for all your support and encouragement throughout the years that has led to three books to date. You are a gift in my life!

 

 

My last two visits of ministry time in the NICU have been graced with special blessings. It has been a dry spell of four months of not being needed. For those who know me personally or are faithful readers of this website, you probably know I thoroughly enjoy loving the littlest ones. The NICU is one of my holy places, where I encounter God’s presence, peace, and joy while snuggling, soothing, and loving the babies. As often happens in our ministries, I believe we receive much more than we give, which is what I experience in the NICU.

 

This verse describes what the first time back reminded me of and what I experienced starting in 2017 until the beginning of the pandemic.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. –Romans 15:5-7 (NIV)

Just as Jesus lived His life on earth in unity with God and exemplified glorifying God in all He did, so we should as well. Jesus accepted people where they were, loving them and wanting them to come to know God. He inspired people to go deeper and change as they learned more about God. Accepting people brings praise to God as we try to influence them by sharing Christ.

When I was at the NICU that first day, it was so good to be back with some of the “pre-Covid” nurses who always welcome me with open arms and cheerful smiles. It is a sense of family and community, as we are all there because of our love for these little ones and one another. Though we are all from different walks of life with different struggles and life events, we are one in our love and concern for the little ones. This brings glory and praise to God.

 

Photo courtesy of Sharon Tate Soberon under Creative Commons License (CC BY-ND 2.0)

 

The second day, a little girl that I held for most of my time there stole my heart. As soon as I held her, all I could think of was how truly angelic she looked and how precious she was.

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. –Hebrews 13:1-3 (NIV)

Our greatest task on this earth is to truly love one another. God’s love for each one of us, no matter who we are or what we have done, is total unconditional love. We exist because of His great love. Jesus gave us the example of loving the adulteress, the leper, the marginalized, and the little children, just to name a few. Our human eyes may see just the external in people, but our hearts should see the value of each person that God created, no matter their circumstances. We are to remember and help those in need, whether we agree with their life choices or not.

As I gazed upon the beautiful, angelic face of this little girl, I saw the face of Jesus. Despite the unfortunate circumstances of her life, I was holding a miracle of life—a precious one made in God’s image. Her lower arm bones were long and thin, as were her fingers. Two poses that she made added to her beauty. At one point, she held her arms in the shape of an X, with her lower arms in front of her chest. A nurse was nearby and said, “She’s sending the message of what she needs most: hugs and how important they are.” Yes, this little one needs to know how loved she is through the hugs and attention she deserves. I stroked her head and face and prayed for her future, asking God to watch over her always.

Her other arm position was so that her hands were tucked under her chin as she continued to look so angelic, peaceful, and content despite the inner turmoil she was experiencing.

 

Photo courtesy of Chris Rycroft under Creative Commons License (CC BY 2.0)

 

REFLECTION:

Who can you make feel welcome despite their different lifestyles?
Can you be challenged to see the face of Christ in the one who has done something horrific?

Be encouraged this week to…

 

…accept others as Christ did.

…praise and glorify God for everyone you meet, even those who are most different from you.

…make others feel welcome.

 

…extend hospitality to someone outside your normal circle of influence.

…pray for those in prison or suffering, whether it is their fault or not.

…embrace and share God’s love with others.

 

We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.  And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. –1 John 4:19-21 (NIV)