We all need somebody to lean on....

This week my small group gathered for our annual Christmas luncheon.  It was a wonderful time of sharing, as usual.  Most of our group has been together for more than two years, but we have added a few more friends along the way.  We were missing a couple of gals on Wednesday, but here is a picture of us after our celebration...

As I was preparing to write this blog, all I could think about was a very old song from 1972  - Lean On Me by Bill Withers.   Here are the lyrics to that song.  I think I should recommend that my group makes this our theme song..... (But instead of CALL ME it should say TEXT ME)!

Sometimes in our lives, We all have pain, we all have sorrow,

But if we are wise, we know that there is always tomorrow.

Lean on me when you're not strong, I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on.

For it won't be long, Til I'm gonna need somebody to lean on.

Please swallow your pride, If I have things you need to borrow

For no one can fill those of your needs, that you won't let show.

Just call on my brother, when you need a hand. We all need somebody to lean on.

I just might have a problem that you'll understand, We all need somebody to lean on.

If there is a load you have to bear. That you can't carry.

I'm right up the road, I'll share your load. If you just call me.

I can't express just how true the words of this song are for our group, how much they apply.  Each one of us has our ups and downs - our pain and sorrow and our joys.  But in that, we all know that we can lean on each other.  Because we are such a diverse group of women, we understand so many different problems and situations.  It is an amazing thing to see how the Lord put our group together, because he knew that we would all need each other in different ways and at different times. Each bringing something so valuable and unique to the group.  

In Ephesians 6, Paul details the Armor of God.  in verse 13 it says....

Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Part of that armor is the shield of faith,  described in verse 16  - with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  

My friends and I have discovered that sometimes that shield of faith is really heavy.  When you are in midst of tough circumstances, when you have grown weary and been struggling on for so very long, when things seem hopeless - it is really hard to have enough faith to be protected from the attacks of the enemy.  So, we have decided that, just like the Roman soldiers did, we would "Lock our shields" together.  Together we are much stronger and we can all "lean on each other" when times get tough.  

Earlier I said that the song should say "text" instead of "call" - and that is just so true.  Our group has a group text that carries prayer requests, urgent cries for help (which we simply have to text 911 to our group and prayers will immediately begin) wonderful good news, answered prayers, and often you see the phrase "Shields locked" show up!  Simply put, that phrase says that we are standing with each other - we are helping carry that hard load - whatever it is.  To us, it means that when you have a deep need, all the rest of the group will encircle you with their shields of faith raised to help protect you. This year, we were so blessed by one gal with this physical reminder of that phrase.  

I am convinced that everyone needs somebody to lean on.  If you don't have a small group or even just one or two close friends, I encourage you to seek it out.    Being isolated is one of the ways that satan has to knock us down.  It is so worth it to find people with whom you can be open and honest.  Jesus never intended for us to be lone warriors.  We are all so much better when we are surrounded by those locked shields.  Yep, I am going to be humming "Lean on me" in the days ahead!

Jesus, thank you so much for the blessing of close friends.  Thank you for drawing us all together and being the creator of our small group.  Holy Spirit, reach out to those that feeling lonely and those that don't have a support group.  Lead them to exactly the right place for them to meet others who they can lean on.  Jesus thank you for caring for us and knowing that we need friends.  Amen  

Staying in the LIGHT of the SON!

This is sweet Lucas, who looks like he is waving hello!  He is also "catching some rays" - that is laying on a "Bili Blanket"!  This is an amazing newer invention (which has been around for at least 8 years since Lia had one of these) that allows you to be at home with your baby that needs photo therapy for an elevated Bilirubin level that causes jaundice in newborns.

And here is Doug (daddy of Lucas) also catching some rays.....in an incubator in the NICU.  Yes, this was 32 years ago and things were a bit different then.  When I took the picture of Lucas this morning, Doug and I were just laughing at his pose.  We have a "professional" picture of Doug in that exact pose!  It was his official hospital picture (which they do not even do any more).  And it was taken on the day that he finally went home from the hospital.  So he was NOT newborn, but several weeks old.  And we always laughed at that picture, wondering why the photographer left his arm like that.  Well, just try and get little Lucas to put his arm down!  As quickly as we moved it down, he put it right back up like that. Isn't it interesting how many different little things we actually inherit from our parents?  Apparently this is a very comfortable position!

Yes, Lucas has jaundice.  All of my children and grandchildren have had this.  It is not that uncommon.  But it is still no fun, when you are the mommy and daddy (or grandma).  You worry about your little one.  And the bad news is that this jaundice makes these babies sleepy and the lights just add to that.  So they don't want to eat very well.  So life with these newborns can be very challenging.  Doug and Susie are doing well with this.  As did Gwen and Tim.  It is so amazing to see your children really "all grown up" as parents themselves.

I stopped over to visit Lucas (and Doug and Susie) this morning after my Women's small group.  I had asked my friends to pray for Lucas (and his mommy and daddy) for this jaundice issue.  It was so good to get a report later today, that his level had actually dropped slightly, and most importantly had not gone UP!  As they were praying I kept thinking about his name - Lucas.   Lucas means illumination or light!  Yes, he is a child of THE light! I love that today, as he is getting some extra light from that blanket, he was also getting covered by the light of Jesus through those prayers.  Jesus is THE light and I know that Jesus will take care of that Jaundice.   Just as Jesus is taking care of Lucas.  There is nothing better to a Grandma than knowing that Jesus is in charge!

Once again, I just need to add that there is really something amazing about gathering together with a small group of people to just worship and pray.  In just a short time, my little group has seen some amazing answers to prayers.  There have been jobs found, healings, other "suddenlys" that have surprised us all.  We have been able to encourage and support one another through some very difficult situations.  There have been weddings, births, sickness and even deaths, but in it all, Jesus has been there. I can't think of anything that is more important to me than this group of people.

So my encouragement to you today, is to find your group if you do not have one now!  It is so worth the time commitment to join this kind of a group.   I will be praying for each person reading this blog to find a place (or start a group yourself!),   You will be blessed!

Jesus, thank you for reminding me that you are taking care of Lucas.   Thank you for my friends who stand with me in difficult situations and celebrate with me in joyful times.   Holy Spirit, help us all to draw closer to our brothers and sisters in Christ, so that we can be built up and support each other.   Thank you for my children and grandchildren.   Jesus, you are the Light of the World!  Thank you for your light!   Amen