The Church

I am The Church

You are The Church

We are The Church together

All who follow Jesus

All around the world

We are The Church together.

When a group of children sing this simple Sunday School song, they probably don't understand how much theology they already have committed to memory.  To be a Christian, and to join in worship with The Church Universal, is a powerful testimony to our unity in Christ. Together with Christian congregations all around the world, we worship the One true God. When we pray for one another, bear one another's burdens, and join in as an active participant in the life of the church, "we are The Church together."

In a telephone conversation I had with my Pastor tonight, I explained that we could not have managed this year without the prayer support of our church behind us. Intercessory prayer offered up from many church congregations praying for Qavah and Kathryn has given us the strength to continue to stand in the face of adversity. Sports teams have cheerleaders for a reason. When the game is on, and the going is tough, we need to hear those on the sidelines cheering. We, The Church, are called to be cheerleaders, or encouragers to the saints. A call from our Pastor to say, "we continue to pray," a note left on Caring Bridge, scripture verses shared by a friend; all of these things have been steadily woven into the fabric of this story. We are so grateful for "The Church."

This Christmas, Qavah opened a gift made by The Hands of Hope at St. John Lutheran Church, our home church in Roanoke. The gift was a tied quilt. And each of the squares had an embroidery thread stitched to it, and the thread needed to be tied for the quilt to be completed. The quilt was left in the prayer chapel and each person who came into the prayer chapel to pray for Qavah, knotted off one of the ties within the squares. The quilt represents a whole church. Prayer warriors and cheerleaders united to send a message to Qavah. There is a church waiting for her at home, where she will take her place among the members, and join them in their work for the Kingdom.  Thanks be to God.

Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Princess Fun

I noticed immediately when I saw Kathryn that her limp has improved greatly since I last saw her, and her new hip joints are working beautifully. She is walking all over the place without pain and loving it. She had arrived at the Ronald McDonald House fairly late on Christmas Eve so Paul stayed at the hospital overnight with Qavah while Kathryn and I were able to stay up late, talk, and have a cup of tea together. We had the apartment to ourselves. We had a great time and got caught up on all of the adventures she was able to have at Holiday gatherings with friends. We girls have been playing princess and enjoying girl time ever since. Paul is definitely outnumbered. We invited him to watch a movie with us last night in Qavah's hospital room. He accepted our invitation but stated firmly, "No fairy princess movies!" I guess all men have their quota, and this year Qavah has pushed him to his limit! 

In Line to see Santa

The ninth floor is very quiet tonight. Perhaps it is the Holy Hush of Christmas, or just that many children have been given a pass to go home for the night. Those of us remaining here seem to have time to chat, and the slower pace is very welcome. I stopped to talk to the nurses a few minutes ago and they were gathered at the nurses' station discussing the many pictures they are seeing on a popular social website this year. Friends and family have posted hundreds of pictures of children sitting on Santa's lap bawling their eyes out. Is it the color red that sets them off? Is it the bushy white beard? What could it be that so many children sit on Santa's lap and scream "rescue me" in a child's universal cry language? One of the nurses commented that they cry so hard the picture is most unflattering. Or as she described it, "tears and snot everywhere!"

After that conversation, I walked down the hall to the sunroom and plugged in the tree lights because it is Christmas Eve. I also found some Christmas music for the CD player that sits under the tree.  As the music plays, Paul and Qavah are sitting together out there and I have come back to Qavah's room for a quiet moment. With the conversation with the nurses fresh on my mind, I wonder what it is about Santa that brings parents with little ones out to the malls every year to wait in long lines for their moment with Santa. Is it simply tradition? Do we hope that a meeting with Santa will bless them in some way, the way Jesus blessed the children? These are questions that don't really have one answer, I suppose. But it does seem more than ever that the birth of Jesus and the coming of Santa compete for our heart's affection at Christmastime, even in Christian homes.

I can't help but wonder what our nation would be like if on Christmas morning there were long lines of families with children waiting to get into our churches to worship the Newborn King. If Children were dressed in their finest, and led by the hand to the place where God's people welcome children, wouldn't that speak love to their little hearts?  If our church doors were open tomorrow and we taught them about the unconditional love of God, whether they are "naughty or nice," wouldn't they cherish Him more than a man in a red suit who can't deliver what he promises?

I am contemplating these things more than ever this year. If seven months in the bone marrow transplant unit has taught me anything, it is to value what is most important. I am celebrating the birth of Jesus tonight inside the Children's Hospital, and it just might be the very best place to celebrate. I am clinging to His promises, and praying for Christmas miracles for the children here. Just down the hall are the rooms where Jamie, Garrison, Kristina, and Johnny were ushered into heaven by the angels. Perhaps even some of the angels present at the birth of our Messiah accompanied them from their rooms on 9B to their mansions in Heaven. What could be more glorious than to sit here and think of the riches in heaven where Jesus our Messiah awaits us, and where The Promised One wipes every tear from our eyes. 

Lord, help us to bring our children to You, and to edify You more than Santa by our speech. We praise You Father, for sending Your Son. We praise You for making Him known to us. Not just on Christmas morning, but in the moments of every day. Quiet our hearts with Your love, and thank You that in Your presence there is peace, no matter where we are.