Poured out for the Lord

"Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy." Matthew 5:7

I have a beautiful Christian friend facing a devastating diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. I saw her for the first time yesterday since I heard the news. She has always been a wonderful example to me of the Proverbs 31 woman ( esp verse 20). She is strong in her weakness. She seems to be everything I am not but I wish to be. I have never heard her be cynical or sarcastic. She is always warm, first to embrace in a warm hug and last to let go. She never wants credit or praise for her continuous service to further God's kingdom. 

She is the poster woman for earnestness. I looked up the definition of earnestness - marked by or showing deep sincerity. What a great spiritual gift. Earnestness is not always my go-to character trait. Our generation as a whole seems to gravitate towards sarcasm and criticism. My friend's go-to response is never sarcasm. It is always warm sincerity, looking for beauty. If I would do that I would see God's creation as holding a higher value. Earnestness brings healing to broken relationships. And I think it brings healing to the church as a whole. Maybe our relationships aren't totally broken but they are not what God intended if they are marked with cynicism and sarcasm. If we turn away from someone and roll our eyes and flippantly reject their feelings, a chasm is created not the warm embrace like my suffering friend always brings.

God has the power over all things. I don't understand why my friend has to suffer through this but I do know that we have a lot we can learn through her. She told me that she admired a mutual friend that we had that suffered through cancer, that she didn't know how she could have been so strong. I think she is the strong one, for she lets us see her weakness.