Out of the abundance…

Part of me is afraid, in the end, I will be the little old lady sitting in the wheelchair in the hall of the nursing home shouting obscenities to all who pass by.

I wonder; Lord, what kind of hurt and disappointments has this poor woman endured?  How is it, that in the end, all she has left is obscenities?

My mind shifts to my colleague.

My friend loves our Father but was in need. In need of a surgery to repair her broken body.  A couple of days ago, I had the privilege of putting her to sleep for this surgery. As she began to emerge from the anesthetic, I removed the breathing tube from her airway. She blinked several times trying to focus her eyes.  Glancing to her right, she grasped the hand of the nurse beside her and said; Thank you for taking care of me.  Glancing to her left she hugged her friend and colleague and said Thank you for taking such good care of me.  I asked my friend if she was in any pain.  She nodded and said …a little.  I began to administer additional pain medicine as my friend closed her eyes and rested her head on the pillow.  We transferred her to recovery.

Each time my friend opened her eyes, she said thank you.  Her response struck me.  Her emergence from anesthesia carried a message.  It was impressive.  It was refreshing.

I thought:  Her name is Joy, her fruit is Gratefulness, she lives in Peace, for she has found her Rest.

The bible teaches us; “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit.” (Luke 6:45)

My friend could only produce what was in her.  And gratefulness was her fruit.  1 Thes 5 reminds me to Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. My friend woke up living out this scripture.

My friend did not have to try to be joyful.  She did not have to strive to give thanks.  Gratitude poured forth.  Her peace was secure.  Her heart was fixed on Christ and she had entered into His rest.

So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. (Heb. 4:9)

When my friend’s defenses were low, and vulnerabilities were high, Christ came pouring out of her.  When she no longer possessed the ability to guard her mouth or censor her tongue, her conversation was full of grace and seasoned with salt (Col. 4:6).

My friend was hurting, physically in pain, and yet her spirit testified of Him.  Lord, I pray when I am hurting, or in despair, when the world is cutting away at me, may my mouth speak of you.  I pray that my spirit will always testify of the One I love. 

Jesus warns us, In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Jesus did not overcome the world by avoiding trouble. He overcame the world by His response to trouble.  When He was pressed on every side, He was not crushed.  He was perplexed, but not in despair, He was persecuted, but not destroyed. (1 Corn. 4: 8-10).  When Christ was in pain, when He was persecuted, when His body was sacrificed for me…Love spilled out.

Lord teach me to abide in you in such a way, that when I am pressed, crushed, perplexed and persecuted, Love will spill out.  Teach me to love you in such a way, when I am no longer able to put a guard on my mouth or a censor on my tongue my heart will speak of You.

…for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.  (Luke 6:45)