Unconditional Love
"Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?" Luke 14:5
During a time when a person is parenting a child who is suffering greatly, this scripture resonates deeply. It is often said that a parent is only as happy as their saddest child. Parents go to great lengths to do their best to ease the pain and add comfort the situation.
Recently, while making a hospital visit, a man told me of some fascinating experiences he has had as a parent. Two of his children were in deep places of suffering for different reasons, one battling cancer, the other, battling a mental disease.
With no medical background or psychological training, he shared the extreme measures he pursued for his boys and his family.
His faith, his desire for wisdom, and his open mindedness reminded me of myself and how I go about doing the best I can .
Others would not be wrong to call it crazy. I find it crazy myself, but crazy can be fun and it can lead to some incredible breakthroughs.
Great comfort settled into my soul as I listened to his stories of provision and hope. When we are led by faith and curiosity, there is no set path, no analytical guarantees, and it takes a giant leap to believe that the answers are there, and God will provide.
Once again, I enter the hospital to do ministry and when I exit, I carry gratitude that the patient ministered to me. On that particular day 3 patients gave me words of wisdom. Who needs therapy, when random ministers are popping into my daily world?
When faced with diseases and diagnosed physical issues life takes a shift of priority. Everything becomes more complicated. Time slows down. Decision needs to be made, some are life or death which adds to the pressure already in the air.
Emotions take a lead. Time is spent waiting on results. Routines are tossed out the window. Too much time has now been given for our thinking mind to stay active in reflecting spaces.
We may even become so weak that masks and routine burdens become too heavy to carry so we discard them, which is actually a healthy response even though it doesn’t feel good.
The world gets rocked.
If you are a lucky one, family and friends will not let you go it alone. They will adjust their priorities to help. They will go to appointments, sit with you in the suck or in the laughter, and remind you with prayers, parties and texts how much you mean. It should be that way but honestly sometimes it isn’t.
When dealing with mental illness, Dr Daniel Amen, who specializes in brain disorder, would like the name changed to brain disease. Could that name shift change the world’s attitude about the devastation that occurs from the battle in the mind?
The emotional suffering, which is often chronic, is as intense as a cancer diagnosis. The big difference in this situation is the stigma attached. Unless you love someone with a mental disability, it’s challenging to understand the complication of the situation. Because of the stigma and thanks to the generational lies “it’s best to not talk about it.”
For any Encanto fans… we don’t talk about Bruno…
Our world has chosen to hide it, ignore it and hope it goes away.
Returning to the healing on the Sabbath, extend me some grace in interpretation…
Everyone understands the love and support given to those with cancer, heart disease, diabetes, spine surgery etc…
But what about life that are less easily defined… grief, depression, anxiety?
I do believe Covid has equalized the playing field a bit because most of us experienced those personally during the pandemic.
And what about taking it even further… let’s expand on brain health, complicated grief, addiction, suicide, schizophrenia, bipolar, trauma. Can we talk about it?
Let’s grow this conversation even larger… what about those that struggle with their identity, sexually, or other?
Wouldn’t the parents of those that struggle with any of the above battles, continue to support them or walk with them even on the Sabbath no matter what?
Jesus expects it!
He knows that mothers and fathers hearts carry an unconditional love!
And yes some parents have bought the lies of religious rules. Some prefer to defend the teachings rather than be the witness of God.
And yes we can’t be perfect.
Back to the man at the hospital, I asked him this question. Where can I get help for a dual diagnosis mental disorder? This man has worked in prisons with the inmates. He has presented mental health training for prison systems and policemen. He has attended medical conferences about brain cancer.
He had a wealth of knowledge…
His answer,
family!
Let’s talk about Bruno!
Let’s jump in the ring of the battle!
Let’s do what we can to love the people God chose for us to do life with!
Stay Blessed, ya’all!