One day, while he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting near by (they had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem); and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.[a] 18 Just then some men came, carrying a paralyzed man on a bed. They were trying to bring him in and lay him before Jesus;[b] 19 but finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the middle of the crowd[c] in front of Jesus. Luke 5:17-19
The man was dependent on others who saw his need. We don’t know much about these men. Were they inconvenienced? How well did they know each other?
Several years ago, something miraculous happened.
My oldest son’s health deteriorated. Months of stomach issues followed by unexpected epileptic seizures left us exhausted. After months of seeking medical treatment and diagnosis, we reached a dead end.
“Why don’t you got to Mayo Clinic?” Someone suggested.
Though the idea seemed great, how would we get there? Who would watch our other two kids for a week?
I let the idea slide away. In my mind, it didn’t seem realistic.
But a few weeks later, his doctor encouraged us to consider pursuing Mayo Clinic.
“OK,” I thought. “Maybe God speaking here.”
After, praying about it and laying my concerns at Jesus’ feet, my husband and I decided to pursue it. But how would this come together?
I thought about our “tribe.” Our church family and neighbors with whom we do life. It seemed risky to ask others to take on such a great responsibility. We would depend on them to be “us” in our absence-feeding my kids, getting them to school (or helping home school), helping with homework, transporting my son to karate, and making sure they were clothed and ready for their impending activities.
Who would do that?
Friends. People like the men who carried the man to Jesus. People who love you enough to see what you need and are willing to be inconvenienced to help you get there.
As they worked together, they wove a mat which carried my son; despite the distance. The days wove together seamlessly. The individual threads connected with one another; some never having been in contact before. They became our support. Because they loved us.
The trip to Mayo holds its own miraculous testimony. My son found treatment and a diagnosis. He has recovered from his stomach issues and is in a stable place with the epilepsy.
We are forever thankful for our friends who brought him in front of Jesus.
This post is written for Five Minute Friday. Come join us! http://fiveminutefriday.com/
*I may have gone over the five minute limit here. It’s a good story 🙂
The mat carriers in our lives are such a gift. My friend Laura while battling cancer called all of us her prayers her mat carriers. It’s an image I’ll never forget. I’m in the 8 spot this week.
What an honor to be one
Stephanie, it is a great, beautiful and marvelous story. I love how your tribe, your community rallied around your family and made your son’s healing that much more available. How wonderful! Thank you for sharing the encouragement and truly a view on this specific passage in Luke. I pray that you have a wonderful and blessed week. Neighborly visit from FMF.
Thanks Kelly! I’m hoping to hop over to your page this week. These past few weeks were hectic!
This IS a good story, Stephanie, and I’m so delighted to hear it!
There are times when I am too hurt and tired to go on, and my FMF family carries me. Would not have lasted this long without all y’all.
#1 this week.
https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2017/09/your-dying-spouse-368-my-hero-hiroo-fm.html
We are so blessed to have crossed your path
“People who love you enough to see what you need and are willing to be inconvenienced to help you get there.”
This whole story is beautiful, but this stuck out (and not only because it was in bold. Lol) it’s making me think of my friend who is letting me stay at her house for four days starting tomorrow because we are going to a conference together. She’s a mom and homeschools too. And the fact that I have cerebral palsy and she isn’t even phased by it and that my dad is willing to fly down and back with me really makes me see God. Thank you for sharing this. ❤️ and reminding me of that truth. That God works all things together for good.
That is a beautiful story. Yes, we depend on our tribe, and what a blessing when our tribe is also made up of brothers and sisters who love Jesus. I’m thankful you son is doing better.
I need the reminder of this story today. It reminds me that I’m not alone in the battle before me. God has blessed me with a tribe too.
So good to hear your son is doing well.