That Is My Child…

I keep hearing God’s affirming whisper. “That is my child.”

I woke up this morning with four words written on my heart. Four words that when I question why they repeat in my mind, heart, and soul… I keep hearing God’s affirming whisper. “That is my child.”

I’ve been witnessing someone not close to me spiraling down a path of destruction. And, I feel myself prey to judgment. Yet remaining in this holding place of sadness, fear for them, and maybe confusion as to what my place should be in any action.

Our sermon this morning spoke of this need to see individuals with our hearts, rather than our eyes alone… this is what compels me to action today. So with no apprehension, I bring forward a question, ‘What about the once removed?’

We all probably have a friend or family member who has battled some loss, pain, or foothold where heartache and compassion, wiped out any regard for judgment. But then, there are the people in our communities that are ‘once removed’. Where is our role with them? “I’m sure their close friends and families are helping,” we tell ourselves. God is surely all around. Would we be nosy or pushing in where we don’t belong if we reached out? What if those dear to them don’t know what to do? Is it enough to simply witness a bad foothold of a neighbor, and not judge?

How do we move from witnessing an event…to being a witness of our faith during an event?

God is putting flashers in front of me every time I see my anonymous struggler, or hear of his trials. I hesitate on how to act, until now. The answer lies in the two words that came to me during church today…  “and therefore.”

Two pretty nondescript words unless we put these whispered words altogether.

“That is my child, and therefore”…

Show no air in your ways… Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. John 13:34

Be loving… A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:14 

Love each other… By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.John 13:35 

Show honor and devotion… Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10

Show no air… Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.Romans 12:16 

Do not judge or add to their stumbling… Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. Romans 14:13

Able to teach…  I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. Romans 15:14

Be kind and compassionate… Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 

Teach… Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

Encourage… Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Spur to goodness and love… And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24 

Don’t slander, gossip… Do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. James 4:11 1

Today’s blog goes out to those of us who are ‘once removed’. Those who are on the outskirts of the destruction. It still pulls at us because we care. As we grow in our faith we begin to recognize each other as GOD’s children, OUR sisters, OUR brothers. So if it is written on our hearts to act, let’s look to the word for guidance.

Today, with a loving heart we see our sisters and brothers in Christ a little closer. We do not judge, and we act in loving kindness and grace.

Faith Infused Living… Reaching Goals Higher

Niccie Kliegl CLC, RN