Heather Bush

I heard on an old radio broadcast how mother Theresa would pick out the worst fitting shoes of all those donated and wear them so the children had shoes that would fit, leaving her feet eventually deformed. As I was laying here tonight with another migraine I thought back to when I had prayed for God to allow me to take at least some measure of a loved one’s pain so they wouldn’t have to suffer as much or that it would help them heal or get through a situation. I realized I was asking God to deform my feet to save them pain. Although I’m not in any way, shape or form likening myself or giving myself the status of mother Theresa, I thought, I would gladly have God deform my feet or let me take on someone else’s pain to lessen their suffering. Now I know this is exactly what Christ did (but for our entire sins) and I don’t want to take that away from the power of Gis actions, but if it could somehow help, somehow lessen someone’s pain or give them peace, I would gladly do that. If it meant even doing it for a homeless person, an addict in recovery, a child in a bad home environment or struggling in school, who am I to not say “Lord, give me some of that to help them”?

I know pain is necessary for growth (as I’ve learned myself these last few months with Covid, mono and a double ear infection) but tonight I can say I am grateful and rejoice for my suffering because it has allowed me to grow closer to God, to strengthen my prayer life, to dive deeper into His word and deepen friendships. If we all were willing to sacrifice a bit more to help one another, even slightly, what a difference that would make. So God, deform my feet however you see fit. Let me carry my brothers’ and sisters’ burdens to help them. And I don’t mean only other believers, I mean anyone. If I had to have a permanent limp to stop the war in the Ukraine, change Putin’s heart, ease those in Turkey and Syria, help heal the war between Palestine and the Jews, I would.

Please don’t take this as a means of my saying I’m holier than thou, or look how great I am. Instead, I’m only trying to share or convey that maybe if we were a bit more willing, a bit more compassionate, a bit more loving the world would be a very different place. In effect is this not part of Jesus’s response when asked, what is the greatest commandment and He said “first to love the lord your God and love your neighbor like yourself”. What a testament to His honor and glory and frankly a simple act of obedience this would be. I’m learning obedience (in my attempt to quit vaping) is not a bad thing. It is actually for my own benefit.

Matthew 22:36-40 NIV:

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”