Jesus Still Walks, Through Us

It was fairly chilly for a Thanksgiving Day in Dallas that year. Our original plans had changed and instead of being at home preparing food and watching football, we were huddled up in the hospital as a family of five around our 8 year old son and brother who had just gone into chronic renal failure and was just told that he’d be starting dialysis the next day.

Although we had much to be thankful for, it was a really hard day. We knew since his birth that this day would probably come and we’d been through at least six surgeries in his short life, but even with all of the mental, spiritual and actual practice we’d had in many hospital rooms, recovery rooms and E.R’s, this day weighed heavily on our hearts.

Rebecca and I were discussing what we should get for lunch down in the cafeteria at Children’s that day. We’d never eaten hospital food on Thanksgiving Day, but today we had to make due. Moments later in our small corner room we heard a knock on the door. I rose to open the door and to my surprise, our friend John stood at the door with a large container on wheels along with a huge bag. With a smile on his face, love in his heart and with a gourmet Thanksgiving dinner fit for a king, he said, “Happy Thanksgiving!”

Needless to say, we were blown away. As we unpacked the containers we found all of our Thanksgiving favorites and more. There was so much food that we had enough to fill our stomachs as well as share with the doctors, nurses and other techs throughout the day. (It was a fish and loaves moment!)

That day, Thanksgiving of 2004, Jesus walked through our hospital room door in the flesh through our friend John. In a dark, lonely, scary moment a brother in Christ (and his wonderful family who gave him up during his time of preparation for us), brought joy, hope, peace, comfort and loads of food to bless us.Friends, we have the opportunity, as the Body of Christ, to minister to each other in countless ways each and every day. There are an extreme number of people hurting and in need all around you as you read this. Today, this week, this year, ask the Lord how you might step into someone’s journey and be “Jesus in the flesh” to them. You will bless them and you will be blessed beyond measure as well. Do so, because it’s not only what Jesus would do, it’s what He has already done. And again, thanks, John.