The Hands and Feet of Jesus
In today’s individualistic society it is hard to picture a group of people who surround each other with love and unconditional support. The early Christian Church, as portrayed in the book of Acts, was convinced that the group came first. They were devoted to fellowship and community. They were unified and had one purpose. My whole life I was sceptical that the modern day church could step up and surround people with this kind of love. I saw it played it only a few times in my lifetime and never in my lifetime would I think I would see the church act so selflessly in the events surrounding my own life.
In the moments following Noah’s drowning, we called out to our church family. Immediately, our church wept with us and prayed with us. The entire Sunday Service was dedicated to Noah. They didn’t give up hope that God could perform a miracle in Noah’s little life. They reached out with messages, songs, and verses that provided hope for our broken hearts. When we arrived home, they provided meals, gifts that honoured Noah and encouragement. In our grief, they carried us.
God intended us to be in a community. A tight knit community of believers where we have one purpose – to help the world encounter Jesus! Unbelievers look at us and need to see that we are different; that we have hope and we display the love of Jesus. Church – you showed this. In our suffering, you suffered. You wrapped us up in the love of the Father. I know sceptics observed your every move, and you proved our Heavenly Father so proud.
Church, it is an honour to do this crazy adventure called life with you. You have become our family. You displayed the love of Christ in ways I have never experienced. I am honoured that Noah got to see love portrayed this way in the church. You are the hands and feet of Jesus here on earth.
A City of Angels
I vividly remember sitting in room 2015 at Arnold Palmer, laying next to our son and being so angry at the world around me for continuing on - even the wind was blowing through the trees. I wanted to yell "STOP! Noah isn't here anymore. How can this world go on without him?!"
And then we arrived back in Calgary, AB and drove into our community of Auburn Bay and we realized the world did stop. The community of Auburn Bay stopped and recognized my beautiful Noah. They tied blue ribbons down the main street. Our street put their Christmas lights on (Noah’s loved Christmas lights) as a tribute to him in the middle of March. The whole community rallied behind us to show us love.
