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Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10. 19-25
There are countless ways that women have blessed me in difficult times and in the ordinary. Sometimes enmasse, sometimes individually. A smile of recognition. The holding of a door. The written encouragement. The gentle reproof. The standing in the gap.
My usually joyful and gregarious (yes, even as an infant, his temperament was evident) infant son was having a moment. Fussing through a diaper change in a public restroom, his whimpers were rapidly escalating to wailing and my reaction was matching his. It was evident that we were both tired and in need of a soothing drink followed by a nap. Then I heard a woman’s gentle voice say, “May I help you?” I turned and saw a kindly smile from a woman I did not know. “Why don’t you take a moment for yourself? I’ll stand right here with your son while you take care of yourself.” I started to sputter a response when she gently but firmly said “I’m not going anywhere.” I took that moment for myself, in the Costco restroom, to catch my breath, dry my tears, use the facilities, regain my composure. As I returned to my son, the woman smiled kindly, remarked on my charming and now smiling infant and left the room before I could barely say “thank you.”
That brief standing in the gap still resonates with me as an example of kindly, simply, assuredly coming alongside and loving another with God’s love. Of being willing to step in and love. Does that resonate with you? I encourage you to seek the Lord in how He may be allowing your path to cross that of another woman, who, for a moment or for a season, would be blessed by your gentle word and kindly intuitive smile.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another . . . Hebrews 10.25
And don’t forget to pick up your copy of Worship & Wisdom, A Study of the Psalms and Proverbs, Part 1 this Sunday at the coffee bar. As Becky reminded us last Sunday, joining a small group is a wonderful way to connect with others in our church body. Good stuff!
With love and great appreciation for all of you who are standing in the gap for one another, Colleen