Two years ago, a two year old boy in our church was taken to the hospital for a stomach virus. His family was expecting the staff to hydrate him, watch him for a day or two and send him home. They did not expect the tumultuous nightmare that would become their normal over the ensuing weeks and months.
Their son had been diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer, and they found themselves braving blizzard-like conditions to bring their son to the children’s hospital in Omaha where treatment options were better. Without clothes, meals or anywhere to take their other children, they began the fight for their little boy’s life. And as a church, we prayed.
As a Christian, I have received a number of prayer requests for a variety of situations and I have always been left with a peculiar conflict in my heart. What exactly am I supposed to be praying for? Healing? Strength? God’s will? Healing generally tops the list, and God’s will is done when healing comes. Or “all things work together for His glory” when it doesn’t. A verse that seems to provide little comfort to Christians struggling with the unexpected loss of a loved one. But it gives the rest of us something to say.
This little boy’s story is dramatic, with an 81/2 hour surgery leaving his vocal chords paralyzed and a need for follow-up radiation therapy. No longer able to speak or eat, he had to be fed through a feeding tube and required a tracheostomy tube to allow for suction in the event he aspirated on his food. He went from running about to not being able to move. And as a church, we prayed.
While he made his slow recovery, however, there was another story developing. One that went beyond the prayer chains and updates in the church bulletin. He now lived in a hospital. His parents were there by his side. And the church made sure they had want of nothing. Arrangements were made to watch their other children, meals were cooked and their small group bible study moved its location from the comforts of a church member’s home to a hospital waiting room. Their house was cleaned, their lawn cared for, their sandbox repaired and a basketball hoop raised.
Now the little boy is running around again, eating and speaking. His tubes are to be removed in the near future and the cancer appears to be gone. Praise God the boy found healing. But I don’t think that should overshadow the work done in men’s hearts within our church. After all, it is this we are to be known for to all the world. And I wonder just what the world would be like if we held this commandment above all else in our lives.
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
–John 13:34-35
[tags]faith, Christianity, prayer, fellowship[/tags]
Beautiful post!
I had two on-line friends that suffered with not being able to conceive. They asked for prayers and as they had become very dear to me I never failed to add them to my daily prayers for as long as it took.
It was the question you asked that smacked me in the face when first asked: what am I praying for? For these women to conceive? for strength if they didn’t or until they did? Or for peace in their longing.
It didn’t take me too long to realize that I would pray for the babies they wanted and for the strength and peace if that was not God’s plan.
They both ended up pregnant in time and have beautiful babies today! I realized I could pray for their wants and at the same time pray for their comfort should their wants not come to be… it made it all the easier the next time I was asked to pray for somebody and I wasn’t quite sure what it was I was to pray for.
And I wonder just what the world would be like if we held this commandment above all else in our lives.
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
–John 13:34-35
This happens when Christianity isn’t something we do, it’s who we are. And God allows these trials to increase our faith and understand the suffering He endured for us.
Great post, Dana.
Dangit, Dana, you’re making me cry! We experienced something similar in our church in VA. Rather than being a distraction from the life of the church, ministering to our brothers and sisters in need is the life of the church. And it blesses us and transforms us in ways that normal bible study cannot. (Not that I’m in any way knocking bible study. Go Bible Study!)
When I studied the Lord’s Prayer in light of a clearer understanding of the word bread in Scripture, I realize that I had prayer all wrong. Most of what I had read, sermons I had listened to were focused on getting prayers answered. But, bread is a symbol of fellowship and provision. At its most basic level prayer should be spending time with God and understanding that He is all you need. But more than that, if we change our understanding of what it means to have our “daily bread” the entire Lord’s Prayer becomes asking God to transform our life. We are changed by spending time in His divine presence.
Your example reminded me of the Church in Acts, “They had all things common. There was not any among them who lacked, care was taken for their supply.” I am not talking about an economic theory; your story is a perfect illustration of how the Body of Christ should work in community.
You are blessed to be part of such a church.
What a lovely post Dana. Thank you for sharing it. It is true that helping others changes those who do the helping, for the better.
So many who are not connected to a church or who are non-believers (of any type of religion) do their acts of giving through monetary donations to non-profit organizations. I just want to say that the personal giving in a time of need to a family such as so many of the churches do is so very different and I feel it affects the hearts of the givers much more than writing a check to strangers at an organization.
My husband is a practicing Catholic. As a comparison to my Protestant church and his, the acts of giving are not the same. The Catholic church he attends does not do things to help the parishoners. They just want monetary donations to support the projects done by the upper powers that be, I’ll call it that. This has been true for this church and the two others he attended when he lived in other towns.
I am so happy to have found a church for myself and my children who really supports the other church attendees. It is more of a community feeling.
Oh and I should say also that my church does support missions, local ministries that serve the community, American missions work and missions work done abroad. But the church does help the actual church attendees in many ways also.
Julie, were you sitting in on our sermon Sunday? When it is posted, I may provide a link to anyone interested but it was about biblical fellowship.
ChristineMM, I’ve seen that, too. I’ve been on both sides between churches who believed it was “someone else’s” job to minister and those who believe it is our job. Their is an entirely different culture in them.
[Julie, were you sitting in on our sermon Sunday?] I wish! I would have taken you to lunch afterward and enjoyed an afternoon of fellowship, mentoring… how fun!
What a great post. I don’t know any of those people, but I’m praising God for the boy’s healing, and for the true biblical fellowship and care and nurture among the body.
Julie mentioned that she’s not talking about an economic theory (“They had all things common. There was not any among them who lacked, care was taken for their supply.” I am not talking about an economic theory;…). I do like to call this Jesus Economics, though.
Can you imagine if the Church operated on a totally different economy, a “Jesus Economy,” in which there was little money exchanged, needs were met, a beautiful give and take…sounds like utopia, I know. But I think the Church can make some changes to move toward something like this, though never reaching perfection this side of Heaven.
ChristineMM- I’m sorry to hear that your husband’s parish does not have more active ministries. As a Catholic who’s lived in 6 different places over the past decade, I can say that it really varies from parish to parish and the key factor seems to be the pastor. Some pastors really embrace their role in helping their flock find ways to serve God and their neighbors. Others are content to pass the buck so to speak to the diocese.
FWIW, I’ve heard Protestant friends of mine give the same complaint as a reason why they switched churches. Catholics often don’t have the option of choosing among multiple parishes. I’ve had to simply wait out a mediocre priest in the past for that reason.
Jennifer in OR, I clarified because I made a similar comment on another blog once and was blasted for supporting socialism. But you are right there is a Jesus Economy in the Bible. Well, actually, the same economic rules seemed to apply in the Old Testament… so maybe it is just a God Economy.
Such an important verse! I have had the same question for many years. When the church loves one another, the very glory of God shines.
Julie, I never thought of being accused of being a socialist, but I can see your point!! Oh my. And yes, a God Economy would be just fine, too.
Nothing wrong with a little private socialism. It is pretty much how the family operates. The problem is when the government gets into it…then it looks more like legalized theft. : )
Seriously, though, it is a little disconcerting how often we pray for things when we are unwilling to act as well.
And Julie, a little lunch after church would be grand, wouldn’t it?
The miracle of community occurred in your midst.