The True Measure of Life
Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”—Lu ke 12:15 (NIV)
A friend loves at all times…—PROVERBS 17:17 (NIV)
I first met my friend Stephanie 15 years ago when I spoke at a ladies’ retreat. After I shared my story about living with never-ending pain, she introduced herself as a Guideposts reader and handed me a jar of her shimmering homemade preserves that she knew was my favorite. “I pray for you every single day, Roberta,” she told me.
A lot of folks say they pray, but I learned that when Stephanie prays, she prays. Heaven-came-down-and-glory-filled-your-soul prayers. Praying for others is what she lives for. Stephanie’s prayers helped me make it through some terribly tough times in my work as a nurse and as the primary caregiver for my parents.
Because of pain and repeated major surgeries, I sometimes disappeared from non-mandatory areas of life. This unfortunately included Stephanie. But even though Stephanie herself is a caregiver to her mother, and has a family and a demanding job, she never once gave up on me. In her non-intrusive way, she left sweet messages on my answering machine, sent encouraging emails and snail-mailed the loveliest-ever cards that never hinted at throwing in the towel of devotion.
After over 50 years of agony, I was divinely delivered from pain. One afternoon as I rejoiced at the wonder of it all, I happened upon a stash of old cards. Twenty-two of them were from the amazingly-consistent Stephanie. A friend and fellow caregiver who loved me even when I was unable to return the gift.
Thank you, Lord, for caregivers who never give up on us or you.
Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”—Lu ke 12:15 (NIV)
In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.—Ephesians 4:26–27 (NIV)
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?—Matthew 6:26 (NIV)