So many of my thoughts and moments the last few weeks have been controlled by emotional difficulties from the crisis we are in.  And I don't like it.  And then our sweet Memolly joined Jesus and we have been grieving that loss, along with the reality, that again because of our current crisis, we weren't able to travel and even been with the family for the services.  My husband loves his grandparents so much,  It has been so hard to know he couldn't even get their to hug on his sweet Pepolly and support his mom and family in this time.  This heavy cloud just seems to get darker lately.

But then today... oh sweet Jesus you are so good for me!  I had another moment where God opened my eyes outward and I found myself smiling and giggling when I wasn't even expecting it.  I had taken my sweet, teen son to a youth event and was sitting in the parking lot.  I had looked down for a minute and then looked up, almost as if on cue. 

For those of you that know me, know that I live to love on Special Needs people.  I teach special needs kids, but even more than just teaching, I feel like my life is not as full if I am not somehow involved or experiencing life through the eyes of those precious special needs people.  They have such beautiful influences over my views on life in general.  So today, on a very sad day for our family, how fitting for God to give me a hug through one of his most precious, a Down Syndrome man.

So there I was, sitting in the parking lot, in the quiet of the car, feeling that ever present heavy cloud hanging around, and I looked up to see the cutest, and I mean CUTEST man I have ever seen.  He was a down syndrome man  and he was as wide as he was tall.  He was adorable.  But what made the moment a God thing, was what I was priviledged to watch unfold. I saw him being upset about something.  He wasn't throwing a fit or anything like that, but I could just tell he wasn't happy at all.  I could tell he felt a dark cloud of his own.  I became instantly captivated by him and was observing. 

Wasn't long until this other man came around the corner of the car.  I saw them talk and the man put his arm around his shoulders.  They had a couple of minutes where they talked. It was long enough and I was drawn to them enough, that I took this picture.  I have blurred it because I would never want to inappropriately expose someone on here without permission.  But even blurred, it is precious and gives you a glimpse into this very special moment I experienced.

There was an obvious love between them... love of true friendship.  The man came over to him to sincerely listen and comfort his friend. They stood like this a couple of minutes and then the special needs man turned to his listening friend, gave him a hug, and had a smile the size of Texas on his face.  I don't know what was actually the problem or what the friend did to help, but what I do know is this cute man was met where he was, was cared about for whatever he was feeling, and was loved into a smile again.  I don't know which makes my heart rejoice more, his smile or the genuine act of friendship I observed.

I sat there and realized that as he smiled I was smiling too. The act of genuine love from one human being to another, that had nothing at all to do with me, impacted me fully and lightened my load as well.  What a gift God gave me on this day of feeling sad, in a season of most challenging and difficult circumstances.  He perfected the timing for me to be in that place at that time, knowing He could capture my attention so quickly because He knows how He made my heart to be so drawn to special needs people.  God planned for me to be captivated by this precious man, so that I was then able  to observe what took place between them, so He could encourage me... and then hopefully I could somehow encourage someone who decided to read this tonight.  Isn't He amazing?

So here is what God spoke to my heart.  He brought this scripture to mind.  I don't have it fully memorized, but I remembered the gist of it.  I looked it up as soon as I got home and want to share it with you now:

John 15:9-17 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Today I watched this scripture lived out in deed.  I couldn't hear the words, but I could observe the actions of love and the affect they had.  It was powerful to see how the listening ear, the gentle touch, and the sincere concern of one friend to another, change the countenance of that precious man before my very eyes.  And how that love extended to him, carried over to me and my countenance was changed as well.  That man would have laid down his life for his friend.  It was clear the sincerity involved.  And it was inspiring. 

And it was the absolute visual picture I needed today of how Christ is walking up beside me (and any of us that are struggling in whatever way) with his full attention on my hurts and fears, He is placing his arm on my shoulder, and letting me pour out to him all that I am thinking in every moment.  And by just His presence, my spirit is lifted and I know that everything, even things that seem so impossible right now, will be overcome through His genuine love. What a friend I have in Jesus! 

And as if that wasn't enough, then He also sends  people to stand in the gap with us, just as this man did today for his sweet friend that was upset, to remind us even more clearly that His love is near, real, and reliable.  Yes, what a friend we have in Jesus.

So as we struggle through the ongoing scary situation involving our adopted daughter and we grieve the earthly loss of our Memolly, I can't help but look at this picture and  think how true  are the words of the old song I have sang in church for as long as I can remember, written by Joseph Scriven (1857).

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge,
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to
Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there
will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship
will be our sweet portion there.

Words: Joseph Scriven (1857)
Praying you let Him be your friend too....

Robin