Redeeming Love

As I was baking the last batch of Christmas cookies, my mind was going over this past year. In some ways, it’s been difficult, as my 94-year-old Mom was hospitalized twice and spent several weeks in skilled care, and other family members had major surgeries. And of course, there is chaos in so many places – Paris, San Bernardino, and many other places, too.

But today the focus of my thoughts was on gratitude. On the whole, it’s been a very good year. I am healthy, and I was able to travel some. One of my most cherished memories is from my trip to Alaska in June. It was a great experience on both land and sea, and the weather was very un-Alaska-like – in the 80s several days, and lots of sunny days.

The highlight of my trip, however, did not happen in Alaska. On the way back home, we had an overnight stay in Seattle. I knew that my daughter’s friend, Julie Dart Snyder and her partner Steve Wall lived there, but I had not contacted them because I really didn’t know if there would be any time to see them. Plus, I had no transportation available. But just about the minute I posted on Facebook that I was in Seattle, Julie contacted me and wanted to set up at time to meet.

Julie is a very special mom. She went to China with Steve to adopt a darling little girl named Lia. This precious little one was born with a cleft lip and palate, and she was in an orphanage. While she received good, loving care there, family and her native culture had essentially abandoned her.

Julie and Steve “redeemed” this little girl by what they did to claim Lia as their own child. They paid a price, both monetary and emotional. And they continue to invest in this child who has required countless operations and medical attention, in addition to all the usual parental care.

Please do not misunderstand. I am in no way comparing these wonderful earthly parents to Jesus, who is our once-and-for-all redeemer. The analogy of redemption is throughout the Bible, beginning way back in Genesis. And that’s what Jesus did for us. He came here as a tiny baby. God living as a human with all the problems of a culture that didn’t receive him. And he paid the price for our redemption when he died on the cross and rose again from the dead to live forever. He is the ultimate redeemer.

That day was the first time I had met Lia, though I had seen many pictures of her on Facebook. She called me “Grandma Polly,” and was not the least bit shy with me. And being called “Grandma” is the best compliment a child can give me.

When I got on the bus headed to the airport, I hugged and kissed Lia and her parents goodbye. I was overwhelmed by the experience of that short visit. It was truly the best part of my two-week trip. I was filled with thanksgiving for having that precious time in the hotel lobby with those dear people. And I knew that God had blessed me in a unique way. I was a visitor there and they drove across town to see me. Julie and I, though we are Facebook friends, have only met a time or two in person, and I had never met Steve, or, of course, Lia. Yet, for me, it was like meeting family. The warmth, immediate love and feeling of belonging. 

Julie and Steve demonstrated what Jesus said:

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you came to visit me…I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.  Matthew 25:35-36, 40

Clearly we cannot all go to China and adopt a child, but we can look for the stranger in our midst who needs a friend, we can donate to the food bank to help the hungry, and we can give much needed monetary donations to charities that clothe, feed and house the needy. And, if we’re able physically, we can give our time to organizations that help those in need. In so doing we, in a sense, provide a sort of redemption for those who need a helping hand.

And we can be grateful for redeeming love. Love of family and friends, and even strangers. But most of all, the love of Jesus for each of us individually. My paraphrase of Isaiah 49:15 is “A mother cannot forget her child.” (If Lia’s biological mother is still alive, I am quite sure she thinks of Lia often.) That verse goes on to say, “Though she may forget, I will not forget you! I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” That’s how much God loves you and me.

I hope your year was blessed, and I wish you the very best in 2016.