Sunday morning retuning: What a great encouragement to be a child of God, and exactly what that looks like for those of who have forgotten, we received on Sunday. May God give each of us the grace to put this truth into practice. If you are ready to become a kid again, check here for resources to help.
[I am always trying to encourage each to see the hand of God in our lives, and giving HIm praise for it! The following story provided by guest contributor Tia Ciferno, is a great illustration of that.]
Julie was walking to the garbage dumpster after our patient day today when a very tousled long-haired grey tabby began meowing loudly and incessantly. One ear was tattered and her face was gaunt with hunger. She followed Julie all the way up the Bella steps and onto our porch, crying.
At first we wondered why she limped and had such a terrible odor. With a closer look we found a pink jeweled collar wrapped around her neck then somehow looped over her right front shoulder and under her tummy. It was wedged tightly into her fur and skin, creating a deep and painful wound. What a sight! We gave her something to eat to distract her while taking scissors to the collar, and with one cut the collar fell free.
We thought instantly of my sister Maria, whose specialty is wildlife rehab. One phone call and she was on her way with medicine and counsel. She washed our Bella Kitty's wounds gently, fed her and brought a cat carrier. Kitty sat quietly and allowed Maria to care for her, and tonight that wounded wanderer is sleeping soundly in my daughter's bedroom, sensing that she's very loved and safe here. Her vet appointment for stitches and medicine is scheduled for tomorrow morning.
I know there's a beautiful creature beneath that matted fur and that emaciated body. Transformation is the story here, both in the feline that found her way to Bella, and in the lives of those who also find their refuge within our walls. We care for women (and men) who emotionally and spiritually limp up those same steps and enter our doors. We love them like the Good Samaritan who cared for the man on the side of the road. He carried him to the inn, dressed his wounds, and paid for his care.
God sends us such beautiful messages! I was in tears as I thought again about the absolute horror of that kitty's wounds- but then the joy of cutting that collar from her and watching it fall free! What an exhilarating moment! How the Lord must rejoice when we come to Him in all our woundedness and with so much binding our hearts...perhaps wrapped in the stench of death from sin- only to find that our pleas are met with a Divine loosening of all we carry by the Power of Love....because of Christ He looses our bonds and we are free!
Transformation is the story for all of us!!
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Tia Ciferno
Executive Director
Bella Women's Center
Thanks Tia for this beautiful reminder of God’s work in our lives.
Jesus, thank You for your transforming work in our lives. Please don’t stop. we are so needy of your continued freeing, because we often get ourselves tangled up in different messes, our own and others. Make us beautiful in Your time. In Jesus name. Amen.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy
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