Another prayer answered

Our friend who received a kidney transplant last summer has been in hospital several days with two infections and a white cell count (immunity) near zero. Yesterday morning her white cell count had risen to 7.5 overnight! Meanwhile, the infections were brought under control and she was sent home. We're so thankful for this answer to many prayers. Thanks to you who joined in those prayers as well.

The other day I was reading James 1 in The Message paraphrase, and found this verse encouraging: "Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life." I feel that the life I'm enjoying is pure gift!

And now, a word about shared grief from Aslan, the Lion in C.S. Lewis' Narnia. Soon after the creation of Narnia, a rascally earth-boy named Digory is face-to-face with the Lion, and although he has caused no end of trouble for Aslan and Narnia, he works up his courage to ask for a cure for his mother who lies dying back in earth. "Now in his despair he looked up at [the lion's] face, and what he saw surprised him as much as anything in his whole life. For the tawny face was bent down near his own and wonder of wonders great shining tears stood in the lion's eyes. They were such big, bright tears compared with Digory's own that for a moment he felt as if the lion must really be sorrier about his mother than he was himself" (The Magician's Nephew).

Imagine! Our Christ weeps with us. He knows! We can picture Him crying out against injustice, sobbing over the brothels of India (and our Western countries as well), dropping His tears on the dirty floors of slave factories in China and Mexico (and our Western countries as well), noticing and grieving every child, woman, and man trafficked against their will to be exploited in some way. It's only in knowing that "He bears our griefs and carries our sorrows" that we find courage and spiritual strength for our battles--whether against slavery, cancer, loneliness, or whatever.

Tonight is the meeting of the Carolinas Clapham Group (anti-slavery). I'm so happy to feel well enough to go this time.

Have a great day.
Carol