More Lucy Than June

I’m going to take a little different spin on What Works For Me Wednesday.

Rather than talk about products, schedules, or programs,  I want to write about what I saw played out first-hand in my life today. It is what truly does work for me…

True friendship.

A picture of Jesus.

If you read my post this morning, you know I had a hard time with my unwashed dishes in the sink.

If you’ve followed any of my recent posts, you know that pregnancy can be a bear for me.

My friend Courtney and I were on the phone this morning, and what was I doing?

Of course. I was whining about the dishes, among other things. Of course.

Immediately, she responded, without any further thought,

I’ll bring the girls over, and let them play with Kenni and Caia. And while they’re playing, I’ll finish up your dishes.

I did not turn down her offer. Especially since the girls hadn’t all played together in ages.

When she arrived, she immediately went to the sink.

The girls were off and running the minute they hit the door. (All of our girls together are ages 4, 3, 2, and 11 months…it’s always a loud and exciting time when they get together. I LOVE it!)

She lamented that she hadn’t offered to bring dinner.

What? I told her that I had to go out to the store anyway to pick up some stuff that we needed, and that I would just pick up something then. She told me to go ahead and go right then while she was there…doing my dishes.

So…let’s sum up. My friend comes to my house, with her children, does my dishes, and then tells me to go grocery shopping while she’s there? Alone? Without other people?

I almost don’t know what to do with myself once I get to the store.

I have to almost verbally remind myself that I should be getting a REGULAR shopping cart. Not the one that looks like a car.

$40 and some frozen food later, I come home with “nutritious” food for the next couple of days. Uh huh. I’ll keep telling myself that.

Does the fact that the box said Healthy Choice mean I really have made a “healthy choice”?? Somehow, I doubt it.

I come back into my house, and she’s holding my baby with one hand while drying dishes with the other. 

Apparently, Caia got a little “needy” while I was gone.

I have not mentioned before that Caia is my snuggler. She likes to be in someone’s arms. That’s her favorite place. I love it…most days.

My friend Courtney has, in her selflessness, become the picture of Jesus in my house. Standing there in my VERY filthy house, doing my VERY dirty dishes, and consoling my VERY adorable (I had to say it) baby.

She did not leave without folding the laundry spread across my dining room table.

AND…when she left, she was going home to lead her neighborhood Bible Study…in her home.

Did that sink in to you ladies?

She completely put aside her own home, her own needs, when surely, many of us would have thought…

Oh, if only it weren’t TODAY. I’m already swamped as it is getting things ready for the Bible Study. Brownies to bake, floors to vacuum… Any other day but today, and I could have done it.

This is not the first time that she has brought this kind of friendship to my doorstep.

When Stephen was flying in from Africa, she and my friend Aimee (who was pregnant at the time) came to my house while we were at the airport, just to CLEAN it for me. They knew I hadn’t had the time during that week and a half to clean anything myself. And I really wanted to have a clean house for Stephen to come home to after spending nine days in less-than-luxury.

I don’t know how long they spent in my house, but it was beautiful when I came home.

I have many examples of how the love of Christ has been truly poured out on me.

I hesitate to write this, since I don’t know who all reads this blog, but my mom and I have a very…different relationship.

I love her. I truly do. But our relationship lacks the nurturing mother-daughter aspect that I would like.

She was in the delivery room when both of my girls were born. And I suspect she will be for Baby #3 as well. But I guess I always kind of hoped that she would offer to come to help when the girls were born.

That just didn’t happen.

And when both of the girls were born, I went through a period of mourning that loss.

But, you know what’s beyond cool?

God fills in the gaps. 

God always fills in the gaps.

Several friends brought us meals and sweet little outfits and bags of diapers when the babies were born. Our dear friends came to visit us at the hospital to see our new little ones. 

And Courtney, once again, showed up at my door to do dishes and laundry. With groceries, diapers, and toilet paper. 

Cause you always need toilet paper

She’s right.

When we were struggling with Caia and her gastrointestinal “issues”, as we refer to them these days, we were able to share our need for prayer with others as we walked through that time.

During Dinner in December, when Stephen and I were both at the church for hours and hours each night, we had no other choice but to bring the girls.

They were fine, and in fact, loved being at church to play. So it was no big deal.

Until, the day of dress rehearsal, Kenni comes down with a fever of 102.

Courtney came to the church to pick her up, took her back to my house, loved on her, and put her to bed.

She also made herself a pot of coffee, and did several loads of laundry.

We did not come home until after 1:00 that night/morning.

I love that girl.

And I can say without reservation that Dinner in December, a dinner show that thousands attended, would not have been the same had she not given of herself that night.

But here’s where I have to stop myself.

Am I being that close of a reflection of Jesus?

Am I giving of myself, despite whatever else I may have going on, to say that I am being the hands and feet of Christ?

I am challenged to reflect Him more and more, because of the witness that Courtney and countless other friends who have so selflessly served Him by serving my family have shown us.

What’s stopping you?