We’re called to love one another. Jesus said so-it’s our second commandment.
Matthew 22:36-39 New King James Version (NKJV) 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
Flip on the news (you pick the cable network depending on the spin you’re in the mood for). In the end it’s all the same-we mostly stink at this. On a global scale-as a whole-we’re failing rather miserably. It can be disheartening in the least.
Scrolling through my Facebook news feed one morning this last July I came across this posting of a fellow “Heart Mom” (as we affectionately refer to one another-another mom whose child, like yours, was born with heart disease).
On July 28th, 2014 Liz Tauer wrote~
This is Willliam’s heart friend Luke. They attend Camp Odayin together and have been bunk mates for years. When Luke was 8 months old he was abandoned in a train station in China. He remained in an Orphanage until Mayo offered him a medical visa. The doctors in China thought he had Pulmonary Stenosis (narrowing of the artery) which would explain why he was alive. Upon arrival to the U.S. the doctors learned he had multiple severe heart defects including the one William has. It was and is unexplainable why he survived. The doctors here fixed him and today he has amazing parents and a family and we are blessed to know him. Luke hounded his parents to get to the hospital to see William. I foresee a lifelong friendship. –with the Nassif Family.
I couldn’t shake this photo or the story behind it-I brought it into my day. I thought about all the beautiful ways that in this story people chose to love one another. What an awesome contrast to the “globally-we stink at this” stories that fill up the network news.
Luke’s birth mother abandoned him at a train station. Yes, she walked away from her child-but possibly this was a selfless act-her only option to give him a chance at survival. -Loving one another
The Chinese orphanage, Mayo clinic’s medical visa, pediatric cardiac doctors, nurses and surgeons -Loving one another
The Nassif family opening their hearts to Luke (yes-Rob and Carol, I already hear your humble rejection to this one. Yes-I know you have been blessed beyond measure by having Luke in your family, yes-I hear you-it was nothing-he’s your son) Yet still –Loving one another
Camp Odayin-this beautiful organization that provides so much for these kids with heart disease and our families, their donors-both corporate and individuals, staff and volunteers who all make it happen –Loving one another
The most remarkable example from this post-the way these two young men (and their caring families) choose to support each other. -Loving one another
May we see ourselves in this-recognizing a similar way in which we can love one another in our own lives.
“Jesus, all that surrounds us in this broken world can leave us feeling disheartened. Help us to honor your commandment. Help us to recognize ways in which we can love one another-in the way that you have called us to. Amen”
This post was originally written for EasterPraise.
Please Note, Photo and subject matter shared here was done so with the knowledge and blessing of both the Tauer family and the Nassif family. Thank you for allowing me to share.