While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.
Matthew 9: 18-19.
A friend sent me a text recently that began with these words, “I know how busy you are, but I was wondering if….” In an instant, conviction hit me. I thought to myself, “Hmmmmh! Is that the vibe I am giving out to the world… that I am too busy?” My friend needed my time but was hesitant to make a request of me because she felt she might be bothering me. And yet, if we are totally honest, how often have we all uttered the phrase, “I am so busy.”
What God showed me, is that I was inadvertently putting up “Stop!” signs or at least “Slow-down” signs rather than “Welcome!” signs in my daily interactions with others. In Matthew 9: 18-19, Jesus is interrupted whilst teaching his disciples. The synagogue ruler, Jairus comes rushing in to ask him to help his sick daughter. Jesus welcomed the interruption, he “…got up and went with him….” Jairus approached Jesus without hesitation, because the sign said, “Welcome!” What does your sign say?
In a world where people need kindness and space to show up, are we open or are we emitting a flashing red light that says, we are too busy? Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. adults lives with a mental illness (NIH). Someone you come across this week may be sad, depressed, lonely or afraid. Will you welcome their interruption? For some, it may be a matter of life and death.
If we have learned anything from this pandemic, it may be to slow down and put out our welcome mats because ultimately, it is all about God’s to-do-list, isn’t it?
Loving Father, indeed, all things work together for good for them that love you and are called according to your purpose. Thank you for using this pandemic to remind us of the things that really matter…. relationships, with you and each other. Give us deep sensitivity to one another, so we might be instruments of your grace to those who are struggling and hurting in this season. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.