A few weeks ago, I had a meeting at the hospital where my Uncle works. I contacted him to let him know that I’d be in the building and we made arrangements to get together. When the time came, he met me at my location, and then we walked over to where he was having lunch with co-workers. On the way, he said hello to several people, introducing me…”Hey, this is my niece!” He walked with confidence and assurance as he led the way. We sat with his co-workers of whom he had prepared lunch for and shared laughs about not eating sweet potato pies with strings (It’s a Southern thing if you don’t understand lol).
When it was time to go, we walked as far as our joint paths would carry us. He gave me money to pay for parking (I had turned down his offer to buy lunch) and embraced. He told me he loved me and I did the same. Right there in a very busy, four cornered hallway we lingered in our hug with each other transferring that verbally expressed love through our minds, bodies, souls and spirits. After that we departed, walking in different directions. My heart was full, beaming. I was smiling from ear-to-ear and it remained until I made it to my car. I settled in to jot this entry down not thinking about the weight of reports, presentations and other assignments that were due, but resting in the moment.
People, whether we determine family to be biological or not, we must take the time to connect. In all, our visit that day was about 20 minutes in total but I received a deposit in my heart that creates lasting memories. Those that carry us through – those that carries….me through. With today’s technology, there is NO reason why we can’t reach out. No excuses either. There can be the relative that never calls you – but you find yourself being the only one reaching out – SO WHAT! This starts with me seriously. It really does! So I, we need to GET OVER IT! Be the REACHER (Another made-up word!) and see that we are the ones who really benefit. Since I gave a new term, let me define it for you.
A Reacher is someone who is in a difficult relational situation with another person and is the one to “Reach Out” in some form of communication to connect in a positive way and rebuild that relationship. It’s kind of like what they say about being the “Bigger or Better person” in a situation. Think about reaching to grab something that is inhibited by a barrier. The object is a millimeter or finger tip away and one has to over extend their reach with everything they’ve got to touch or grab it….that’s the context here. Straining and stretching. Just as how the Woman with the Issue of Blood reached out for Jesus (See Matt 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34 or Luke 8:43-48). In the emotional or intellectual realm, it is often hard because the other person may not even be cognizant of your reach but that doesn’t matter. They will know. It may be a 30 second phone call consisting of, “Hello….how are you? How have you been? Just calling to say hi or I love you…ok take care.” Who knows what the Lord will do through that one thing. It takes strength, courage and assurance that no matter what we are looking in the mirror of God by following through. Not to mention all other forms of communication – text messaging and social media are a few.
Psalms 23:6a tells us that: Goodness and mercy follows us all the days of our lives.
God’s love extends beyond the times when we fail to speak to him through prayer, appreciate him through praise or acknowledge him for exactly who he is through our worship. This is why we need to mirror him with reaching out to our family. Good, bad or indifferent, God has forgiven us, so we can do the same and keep the connectedness with those that we love. Tomorrow is not promised and it is better to act today than have actions of sorrow tomorrow because of our neglect. However we identify these people who mean so much to us is less important than the connectedness we have for encouragement, support, sharing, laughs and memories.
Jesus reaches for us in all tenses – past present future. It’s more like he reached:
- When he was born of human flesh
- When he walked in obedience and love
- When he endured the beating and crucifixion with OUR sin on him
- When he was buried and endured death
- When he rose on the 3rd day
- While reigns in Heaven and is our intermediary
- Until he returns to reign in the earth.
I am able to experience this love when I connect with ALL of my family members – bio/spiritual/physical at work, at church and quite frankly everywhere I go.
So as I stated, there is no excuse. Especially during this holiday season when people are reminded how much they don’t have and how alone they really are. If God puts it in your heart to reach out, do the supernatural thing. Forget about your emotions and DO IT! He won’t let you down!
I challenge you to be the Reacher today…..
Prayer: Father God I thank you for adopting us into your family through Jesus Christ to call us your own – your sons and daughters. Thank you for pursuing us every day. Help us to acknowledge, address and deal with the pain others have put us through so that we can heal and be the light that you created us to be – even in the darkness that surrounds that particular relationship. We want to be the REACHER that mirrors your love. There is no God like Jehovah. In the Name of Jesus Christ we pray – amen.
#ReachOutandTouchSomeone #LetYourLifeShine #KingdomPerspectives
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