Christian Love to the Rescue

A couple of months ago, the Warrior Princess’ mother began going to church on a regular basis. She was sharing with me today why and the impact it’s having on her.

I’ve written several times about Priya, the Warrior Princess, so I won’t elaborate here. There are links below to a couple of blogs if you need to get up to speed.

During the past three and half years, Christy (the Warrior Princess’ mother) has been very aware of the kindness, goodness and generosity that has been poured out on her through all the difficulties and travails. For example, Christy has been the sole support for Priya and her son Miles for more than two years, even though she wasn’t able to work. During all this time, people have generously supported her financially, emotionally, and practically.

She says almost all has come from Christians and many of them people she didn’t even know. Her experience is that Christians have a unique way of being generous, loving, and supportive. It’s always accepting, encouraging, and understanding.

In August, her biggest benefactor came into town and had the opportunity to meet her and Priya for the first time. Christy was excited to meet “Uncle Bill” face-to-face. The only communication they had had were monthly, handwritten letters that accompanied his support. (I have a great photo of Priya giving “Uncle Bill” a big hug.)

These notes always underscored his love and admiration for her along with personal encouragement.

When “Uncle Bill” was here, he spoke to her again of his admiration for her and, in addition,  shared with her the impact Christy’s dedication and devotion had on other people that she did not know. It moved Christy greatly. Goodness and kindness is one thing, but when it comes with the grace of the Holy Spirit and manifests the Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love, it has a unique power of its own.

She felt God encouraging her and reminding her of all he was doing through her and through the people he had sent to her. Even though she knew God loved her, it was as if she was hearing it for the first time. The specific ways God had loved her with all these different people moved her. God showed her that she was unique and original in his eyes and had been blessed with her situation.  She wanted to open her life again to God’s grace, to all God had in mind for her and start anew her relationship with him.

The next week a long-time client of hers invited Christy to attend her church. She accepted and has been attending ever since. Christy was sharing with me how her eyes are being opened in new ways to see the freedom she really has in Christ along with the good he’s able to bring out of a difficult situation. She says the world looks brighter today and clearer. While before, she was aware of God’s love but was blinded by the darkness of her struggle. These days are brighter and different even though they are filled with many of the same challenges.

Over the past three weeks, through many different incidences, I have been blessed to see how the love of Christians poured out on others is having an impact in a secularized world. Rejoice with me how he’s impacting Christy while using her at the same time. I recently came back from a conference of Christian philanthropists and heard stories of people rescued from sex trafficking, slavery as well as Muslim refugees being cared for and more.

Think of how secular people are responding to seeing Pope Francis kiss a deformed man, wash the feet of prisoners, or eat with the homeless. One of the conference speakers explaining the impact of these images of Pope Francis said, “When followers of Jesus act like Jesus extraordinary things happen that impact secular people.”

Let’s act like Christ this week, we’ll probably have no idea how it’s impacting others.

Priya’s story links: A Life Lesson from the Warrior Princess and Nobility of Work