I heard a great true story last week that showed me once again the power and fruit of persevering love. This young lady, I will call her Rose, came from a very dysfunctional family, her mother an alcoholic and her father a drug addict. Rose was not abused but neglected and undisciplined and left to make her own way as best she could. FACS was involved but "her parents were good liars" and so she was never taken out of the home. Her school, to their credit, knowing her circumstances found her a big sister from the Big Sisters organization and they began to meet regularly. This big sister, I will call her Amanda, was a faithful believer in Christ and became a loving big sister and friend to Rose. As Rose says, Amanda taught me how to eat with manners, how to dress, about discipline, helped with schooling, took her places and also took her to church once in a while. Rose admits she was not very interested in church but went along with Amanda because of what Amanda's love and care meant to her. I am sure Amanda prayed regularly for Rose.
Well Amanda got sick and this sickness led to her death. Amanda's persevering love for Rose continued through some financial gifts to Rose from her estate. Rose by this time was engaged and was pregnant and was no longer living at home. Amanda's mindset at this time was far from Christianity.
By this time Rose's mom had terminal cancer and was put into hospice care. While in care another servant of God shared the message of the saving love of Jesus with Rose's mom and she came to know Christ. As a result Rose's mom asked her to forgive all the neglect and poor example and pain she had inflicted on Rose and the family. Rose was moved by the work of God upon her mother and by the past influence of Amanda and today she is a new Christian beginning her new life in Jesus. Rose and Amanda's daughter continue in friendship to this day.
This is a wonderful story that illustrates the power and fruit of a life lived in persevering love toward an unbeliever, and the power and fruit of a Christian witness that led to a transformed parent at the end of life that God used to effect an eternal change in her daughter.
God has enabled each one of us with persevering love in Christ and we need to be conscious each day of loving those around us for the sake of the Gospel. "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Galatians 6.9,10
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
ReplyDeleteI Corinthians 15:58 NKJV
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