“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)
This past Saturday morning I served at the House Of The Harvest. It is a ministry that volunteers meet every Saturday out of their love for Jesus and their neighbors and they hand out groceries, frozen foods, a hot breakfast, personal hygiene items and clothing. Our neighbors in need get a shopping cart and go through the line where volunteers give them items they need. After they have gone through the line other volunteers in vests help them walk to the car with their carts full of goods, cross the street, help them load their car, and then ask if they need prayer. As a “cart boy” is where I prefer to serve.
An elderly lady with a cane came through the line and I asked her if I could help her and she said, “Sure, Thank You.” She was parked across the street so we walked and talked. She said her name was Elizabeth and she was so thankful for this cart of food as it helps her so much and the box of Depends underwear for her brother. I asked her about her brother. She said his name was Julius. He was born with cerebral palsy. When he was born, the doctors said he would not likely live more than 5 years, 10 at the most. She said he is 63 years old now! Elizabeth said Julius lives with her and she takes care of him. She said Julius lived with his mom until she passed 15 years ago. Before her mom died, she made Elizabeth promise she would not put Julius in an institution, and Elizabeth said she is honoring that promise.
She said it is hard. Her brother Julius cannot use is arms or legs, They are locked almost in a fetal position. And she said he cannot talk. He just hoots and groans. She said she has to feed him, bath him, carry him to the living room, bedroom and into the car for trips to doctors and other places. And she is a lady in her 70’s who walks with a cane! My heart ached for her. She got quiet, and tears flowed down her cheeks. She said she felt terrible because the other morning she wished to herself that Julius was not in her life. Tears flowed as she said sometimes I wish I just a week, or a couple days, or a day to just rest and take care of me. She whispered it is hard. By this time I had tears running down my face. She said again she felt so guilty. Elizabeth said the morning after she said those things she had to take him to Mississippi. She said he Julius “Sang” the whole way there. Not with words, but with howls and hoots. She said he made her laugh, brought her joy, and regretted again her thoughts the day before.
Elizabeth then told me she has cancer. She pulled down the neck of her shirt to show me the scar of where they had to put a port in her chest for medicine. She said she went through treatment for it three years ago. She said as she was going through it she was so scared for Julius, as who would take care of him is she died. She said she prayed to God to heal her so she could take care of her brother. And she said with a smile through her tears, “I am still here!”
I finished loading the groceries into her car and I asked Elizabeth if I could pray for her. She said absolutely. I told her Jesus loves her and she replied boldly, yes He does! She raised her fist that was not holding her cane and declared, “We serve a might God!” After we finished praying I gave her a hug and told her I loved her. I watched her drive off, grabbed the empty shopping cart, and pushed it back to the serving line. As I walked I thanked God for my encounter with Elizabeth. I thanked God for what was an encounter with Jesus. I thanked God that he is forming in me a heart that mourns and weeps for my neighbors.
To mourn for your neighbors you have to personally encounter and enter into the lives of your neighbors and love them. To encounter Jesus and mourn with Him you have to go out and seek Him in your neighbors and love them. This can’t happen through Zoom. This can’t happen in a sanctuary. This can’t happen from your back deck.
My family, I pray you may be blessed today to mourn. I pray today you will be one of those Jesus speaks of as blessed are those who mourn as they will be comforted. I pray you will seek to encounter Jesus by an encounter with your neighbor, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
I would love for you to please share your reflections with myself or others using the comment box below.
My wife Nancy and I are in a new season of our ministry of pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You Thank You!
