by Sharon Pahlka

You just know when you are well loved. Didn’t the Velveteen Rabbit know because all his fur had been loved off him? You know. Yesterday a friend reminded me of a segment of the Truth Project videos where a tattooed fellow who didn’t think much of Christians or Christianity but did think much of a woman named Millie who was a Christian and visited his family when he was a boy. His eyes teared up as he told how she had brought him a birthday cake and did many kind things for his family.

And, it can be so simple. Maybe some of you heard Kelly Pearson tell us in her children’s sermon about the impact of her simple letters to her niece when her niece was having troubles. Her niece has cherished and kept every single letter. She was loved well.

This last year I have had a couple major surgeries back to back, a total knee replacement and a shoulder repair…100,000 mile tune-up time! I live alone and needed help during both these surgeries to avoid going to a rehab place. “Yikes” I thought as I wondered how to handle this. Asking for help was my only option, and I prefer it not! But I am blessed with many friends and had so many people glad and eager to help me. My-oh-my, I felt humbled and loved well.

What stands out most is my homegroup, who came to my rescue time after time. The ladies took turns staying with me overnight for the week I needed with each of the surgeries. It is not easy to take a whole day out of your schedule and basically be a gal’s servant (as glorious as it is to be in my presence). One of the men took time off work to fetch and deliver a twin bed to my dining room because I couldn’t do the stairs to my bedroom.

I am rather like “Mikey”, the little boy on a TV commercial who eats anything. If someone will feed me, I will show up, although the ones who showed up time after time for me brought absolutely delicious meals the pickiest eater would love. I had people to clean my home, to take me to the store, doctor appointments, help me shower, read to me, visit and more.

That shower was hilarious! We didn’t have a plan or strategy but my friend sure has a “can do” attitude. I got my needed shower but so did my friend…from head to toe, clothes dripping, glasses steaming, and floor flooded. We laughed and I took a picture of her to remember this love in action and that we have a God with a sense of humor.

It has been a humbling and excellent reminder of what it means to follow Christ simply by loving Him and loving others. When I sometimes get overwhelmed, confused, weary of doing all the “things,” it helps me to remember that Jesus made it simple when he boiled the gospel down to loving Him and loving your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39). Loving well and being well-loved in return.

Yesterday I went to the Cabrini Towers for my physical therapy and noticed the quote on the side of the building: “Today love cannot be hidden, it must become active, living and true”. Mother Cabrini. Mother Cabrini knew about loving well, just like my home group!

Sharon Pahlka is a long-time Bethany member who often shares a message with the children in Sunday worship.