Come Alongside~

I have a message for you directly from Jesus: "Peace be with you." Luke 24:36

No matter where you are, right this very second, say, "I RECEIVE IT!" I can't hear you!!!

"I...RECEIVE...IT!!!!!!"

That's better~

Over the past several days I have noticed a trend among my buddies, and it's an excellent and beautiful one.

One of you lovely beings was talking with a buddy about some issues, and rather than criticize or give your high and mighty opinion, you talked it out and over and then you sent her some encouraging words that made a difference.

Another of you magnificent creatures has done about all you could possibly do to embrace and love and accept the young person dating one of your children--even nursing them back to health when they came down with an ear and throat infection--because this poor child can not depend on the biological parents.

And perhaps you knew this or maybe you didn't, but you are living out the life-affirming, life-giving gospel of our precious Lord and Savior.

This coming weekend we will all celebrate Easter. And way back when He died and rose again and prepared to ascend into Heaven, Christ told the disciples, "And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever."

That Comforter, Who is also known as a Helper, Friend, Advocate, Counselor, and Redeemer, is the Holy Spirit. If we break it down, abide with you literally means Someone Who comes alongside and comforts, helps, advocates, counsels, and redeems.

This is really powerful stuff because what we have in a nutshell is how to live our lives. We are to come alongside those we love. We are not told to come at, attack, scream at, preach at, belittle, condemn, criticize, or accuse. We are encouraged to come alongside and help them work it out, just like the Holy Spirit does with us.

Those of you who have kids know that yelling doesn't work. Losing your temper doesn't work. Pointing a finger doesn't work. Sitting down next to them and taking their naughty little hand in yours and reaffirming your love for them as you escort them to time out does. Driving your teenager around for three weeks until they felt confident to get behind the wheel after a car accident does. Helping them type an assignment even though they waited until the last minute to do it does.

Think about a time when you came alongside someone you loved and helped them work through something as opposed to freaking out and making it worse.

Allow me to confess that I have not always done that myself. When I should have hugged someone and forgiven them, I yelled. When I should have done something for someone who was wearier than I, I retreated. Many many times I overreacted. But then, praise the Lord, there have also been many many times when I got it right.

One day when Rayray was five years old, she decided that the only solution to her problem was to run away. In her kindergarten mind, leaving her family was a more appealing option than staying and facing the consequences of a certain misbehavior. I went with her to her room and helped get her tiny pink Sesame Street suitcase down from the closet. And as we filled it with all the stuff she thought she would need, I knew she was waiting for me to beg her to stay. I did not. Instead, as she stood by the front door, I grabbed my suitcase and asked her where we were going to go. She was kind of shocked as she did not expect mommy to run away too. But God knows I would have if that's what would have been necessary.

To this day whenever I tell that story I get all choked up. It's not a picture of a mom coming alongside her baby that gets me. It's the fact that no matter what we do, Christ is alongside us--always.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, Help us to live this out. We want always to come alongside those You put in our lives. Not browbeat them. We will need Your patience and goodness to flow through us as this is sometimes a very difficult thing to do. Thank You that You have enough strength for us all. In Jesus' name, AMEN~