And You Shall Be Blessed

I learned early last week that Mercy Elizabeth has passed away. My heart is profoundly sad, but here’s what I've come to realize. The short time that I got to spend with Mercy, it was not me who had blessed her but Mercy who was blessing me.  Her fight for survival; her parent’s deep abiding joy in her brief life; how many people she has touched simply by being loved. And that’s when it hit me. This was never about me stopping to help. Rather it was Mercy who was holding me; Mercy who comforted me, who warmed my heart and kept if from going cold…and this sweet baby is helping me heal even now. And now it is left up to each of us to respond to Jesus', "Go and do likewise." (adapted from Sunday's sermon on the Good Samaritan)