Learning to Love

A Sanctuary Wherever, as a blog, was started in 2012 on a cross-country journey as we moved from Washington to Virginia.  It's been 2 years since I've written anything here, and I pick up again, in hopes of some consistency, to relate a different kind of journey on which I have embarked...a journey to learn to love.  To love radically, to love sacrificially, to love as Jesus loved.  To love even and especially the unlovable and difficult to love because I've been asked to by the One whom I love the most, and He is worthy of every sacrifice and gift of love.  

  I've had two distinct impressions of love this week.  The first was through the death of our dear, sweet Maegan Kramb, my front desk receptionist at the clinic.  She was taken so suddenly a week ago, so tragically, and we all are wrestling with the sovereignty of God.  Hearing the witnesses of how well she loved and seeing the love, strength and grace of her parents and family at the funeral service was a testament to the Love of God.  She loved well and encouraged others in the same.  The love of Jesus that radiated through her smile will be greatly missed by so many.

The second was through listening to "Something Beautiful for God" about Mother Theresa and a prayer that was written out there. "Dearest Lord, may I see You today and every day in the person of Your sick [or my family, coworkers, friends, etc], and, whilst nursing them, minister unto You.  Though You hide Yourself behind the unattractive disguise of the irritable, the exacting, the unreasonable, may I still recognize You, and say: 'Jesus, my patient, how sweet it is to serve You.' Lord, give me this seeing faith, then my work will never be monotonous.  I will ever find joy in humouring the fancies and gratifying the wishes of all poor sufferers. O beloved sick, how doubly dear you are to me, when you personify Christ; and what a privelege is mine to be allowed to tend you.  Sweetest Lord, make me appreciative of the dignity of my high vocation, and its many responsibilities.  Never permit me to disgrace it by giving way to coldness, unkindness, or impatience [especially with those closest to me, with my family].  And O God, while you are Jesus, my patient[/husband/children/friend, etc], deign also to be to me a patient Jesus, bearing with my faults, looking only to my intention, which is to love and serve You in the person of each...Lord, increase my faith, bless my efforts and work, now and for evermore. Amen.