Pallet Bearers

"This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."  

John 15:12-13

Throughout Princess' journey we have become dependent upon the support of family and friends.  Many of you who are reading these words have been in "the foxhole" with us and have provided rides and trips for Princess!  Thank you!  Over the last few weeks, Princess has remained on hospice and the help and encouragement have never been more needed!  A few friends have responded and it has been water for a thirsty soul!  As school has begun and some routine is beginning to be established, there is now a quiet, yet deafening lull…sadly, a reminder of the hurt, pain, inadequacies, and aloneness that can often come with this awful illness.  And while maybe you, too, can envision or even feel the souls anguish, we did want to pass along some encouragement. 

Before that, the update….

Princess is continuing to have a number of “push throughs” as we have come to ascribe a scale to her seizures.  A “push through” is relatively mild (at least by our definition); however, it is a seizure and still leaves Princess exhausted and tired.  More often than not, these events will be interruptions throughout the day, yet Princess can carry on.  None the less, exhausting!  A “seizure” is where Princess will physically put her head down, or lay down on the ground, often moaning and frequently lose awareness.  Upon the seizure completion, she is confused, exhausted and unaware of all that is taking place.  Usually, in about 10 minutes or so, she is okay with no recollection of the seizure that just occurred. However, having all these combined into a day, often numbering more than 10 in a day, leaves Princess helpless.  Additionally, her heart rate is soaring with her heart beating at night at nearly 120 beats per minute. Sitting in chair at home, 150+ beats per minute.  Stuck. 

The Lesson

Oh, to be a paralytic!  Although we don’t know fully how to handle what it means to be a paralytic, we can only imagine the heartache, the hurt, the loneliness that comes with that state.  And so it is with many who suffer with a debilitating illness.  While many things don’t work in the way you want them to….  While what used to be a simple task is now so daunting, you don’t…  When just trying to breathe, takes too much effort, Princess will tell you that just maybe those things that she experiences just might be a glimpse of someone in the Bible that, he too, was dependent upon others.   

Many of you know that we are blessed to attend church at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship.  Often, we describe the weekly message as “getting our teeth kicked in.”  Simply, Dr. Tony Evans can present the Bible and its message in such practical and simple ways that we leave spiritually full every week.  Additionally, as has been his practice for many years, he takes the month of August off for a sabbatical.  Making sure that the congregation is in good hands to still hear good, sound teaching, he will make sure to provide visiting pastors to come and preach.  This August has certainly not disappointed.  Why?  Dr. Evans pulled from the bench his very own son, Jonathan.  Jonathan is amazingly blessed and gifted in his own ways and has been challenging us with his own series, titled: the Message in the Miracles. 

On the first Sunday, Jonathan took us to the book of Mark, Chapter 2.  The Miracle?  The healing of the paralytic.  And while there was indeed a message in the miracle, Jonathan directed us to a verse that like us, maybe you have even overlooked.  Beginning in Verse 3 it says, “And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. ⁴ Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying.” 

Just being weeks removed from the hospital, Princess has found herself to be in a similar situation to the paralytic.  Stuck.  Dependent upon others for much.  And it was in this part of the message from Pastor Jonathan that the message hit home.  Four men…  While the passage doesn’t tell us exactly who these men were, the fact is, these four men surrounded the paralytic and went the extra mile.  They were there for him.  They literally were carrying him on his pallet.  Further, they knew what Jesus was able to do for their friend.  For them, it was to get their friend to the One that could heal.  As the passage goes on to state, these men, not being able to get to Jesus, decided to get their paralyzed friend up on the roof.  Climbing stairs, the men in front most likely had to awkwardly lean down going up the stairs, while the friends in the back had to lift their arms most likely or position the pallet on their shoulders so that a coordinated effort was done to not drop their friend.  And as Jonathan then also shared with us, the friends began to dig through the roof of this home.  Going through layer after layer, probably at this point exhausted, tired, breathing hard, and sweating, I would imagine.  All for the sake of a friend in need.  And what came of the friends’ effort?  Healing.  A miracle!

In our own world in the weeks following July 6^th, Princess has become weak; however, four friends, not coincidentally, yet providentially have in their own unique ways each been to her one of these four men all within that particular week.  It was after hearing this message that the Lord spoke to us and reminded us that He truly does care for us in a time of need.  Amen!  Each friend, four to be exact, made sacrifices to come to Princess in the middle of family time and amidst preparation for overseas travel… spend time over the phone when it was probably inconvenient and found an opportunity to be an encourager even in their time of need…to spending an entire day just listening and supporting, and crying with… and even break away from routine to spend some time to just hang.  And while we know in the end that the paralytic was healed and went home, I wonder if the four friends truly understood what they gave up to deliver their friend to a miracle?  I wonder if the four friends ever realized the change in trajectory they caused, that because of their faith in Jesus, the paralytic was not longer stuck.  I wonder if the four friends would do it again or perhaps do things differently?    

And therefore, for Princess, the same.  Proverbs 18:24 says, “there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.”  Indeed, what great friends!  Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”  Praise the Lord for the four friends that stay with you when times are tough.  Praise the Lord for the friends who, yet we don’t know, are becoming our pallet bearers!  I know for Princess, her “four men” were an answer to prayer and a great encouragement!  She already misses them so much.  So, if you are stuck, may you be blessed with pallet bearers around you.  Not stuck?  If you see a friend, or for that matter, anyone in need, will you be their pallet bearer? 

 

Want to be encouraged further?  Check out Jonathan Evans’ message!