God With Skin On!

There was a story told of a little boy who was frightened one night during a big thunderstorm. Terrified, he called out from his room, "Daddy, I am scared!"

His father, not wanting to get out of bed, called back, "Don't worry, son. God loves you and will take care of you."

There was a moment of silence. The little boy said, "I know God loves me, but right now, I need somebody who has skin on."

Sometimes, our great and awesome God seems almost untouchable. That is where Jesus comes in. He was God with skin on, walking among us and showing us what God is like. I think C. S. Lewis put it well: "The Son of God became a man that men might become sons of God."

This weekend we were the proud recipients of an organization called “Rebuilding Together”—God continues to appear in our lives with skin on! We didn’t do anything spectacular to cause a group of people to appear at our house and devote many hours of labor and supplies to help us get our house back in proper repair. These people were joyful and I realized they were bending; kneeling; lifting; laughing and sawing; nailing, trimming; measuring; studying what to do next together. They did not stop except for a quick bite to eat (outside under the trees) a meal prepared by 2 more volunteers. All Chick and I had to do was receive - - this is a difficult task to do. We felt lazy; wanted to buy them something; pay them something - - just do something to help them. Afterall, we were not their blood family in the sense we know families, but we were their family for a lifetime through Christ who came and served and continues to serve. Their families are huge - -this is nothing new to them. They are servants of Christ. It was fantastic!

I felt all weepy inside watching them work. They gave of themselves; they took time out from their own families - - all these people have “real paying” jobs they go to every day, but the act of love and unselfish service was a sermon in itself. I couldn’t have paid them. I had no money and this is why they were helping us. We needed it! A young man we met a year ago could see we needed the help. He told me about Rebuilding Together. I wasn’t promised it would happen. The board reviewed our application and we were one of the families selected for this amazing gift!

God is so awesome and He shows himself through believers who love one another as He loves us. Thank you Awesome People. I will never forget that day. I only wish I had video taped it so I can show others the energy; the gift of before and after by strong male carpenters and women who serve their communities without grumbling about giving up their precious time for people they do not know. I told others about the gift and the joy that abounded from these strangers who saw a need and filled it. Even as they were leaving the energy was going on and the smiles were there. Wonderful JOY!

I pray that I can pay it forward! We should all give something for no reason other than to display our Awesome God with skin on. I am humbled!

One last bloom for remembrance...

They were lovely sitting in the front office when I arrived for my evening shift at Finch Elementary. Flowers! Beautiful, breathtaking flowers! I made the remark, “I see my flowers have arrived”. We all smiled, then I asked who was the lucky person who received the flowers. Audrey said a coach in the school district lost his wife and there were so many flowers sent to the funeral that he wanted to share them. I don’t know the coach or his wife, but I could see by the flowers she was well loved and so was he.

Each day as I arrived for work the first thing I saw were these lovely flowers and we all enjoyed the aliveness; the memory of someone who was so loved and cherished that the over abundance of flowers were a monument to her life. By Friday, the cut flowers were wilting and beginning to see their last breath of life. I had an idea. These flowers could continue one or two more days to spread joy in other people’s homes and lives. The Finch Elementary Club 360 children took delight in taking their mom 3 or 4 of the flowers that were left. It was a final tribute to the one who was gone. I knew in my heart that she and her husband would want to see how the wilting flowers would live through one more day putting smiles on the children’s faces as they handed their mom the 3 or 4 flowers each from one of the arrangements. This is what the flowers were about -- consoling the living and bringing a bloom to the cheeks of children!