Bless Your Heart

It has come to my attention that people are mean. While I have always had some understanding of this, it wasn’t until my late 20’s that I actually started some-what believing it.

Last night, my husband was reading me a story. It began with “this is really sad so brace yourself.” It was a fellow cancer mom, pouring her heart out. Telling her supporters that her child’s condition is getting worse. That doctors aren’t sure where to turn, as they have never seen a situation quite like this. I had tears in my eyes as my husband read that to me, and I have never met this family. Maybe it made me weep because the story sounds very familiar, and not too long ago (the beginning of this year) we were told our child's condition was extremely rare and that it hasn’t been seen quite like this before. While that family is battling a very different type of childhood cancer, I immediately felt like I was sitting there with this mom, hugging her, crying together and begging Jesus for our babies' lives.

Unfortunately, that's not the end of the story. My husband then proceeded with “brace yourself again, this part is going to make you mad.” He was right. I wasn’t just mad, I was deeply disappointed. The mom proceeded to explain in her post that she had many people questioning her ability to parent, her ability to make the correct decisions for her child's care, their opinions of what should be done, and, here comes the real thing that made my blood boil, her faith.

Yes, you read all of that correctly. A mother, who just learned her child's condition was inoperable, was being told that if she had more faith this wouldn’t have happened to her. She was told her decisions regarding her child's care should have been thought about more and prayed about more. Decisions that I am sure she spent hours awake thinking about. Decisions that I am sure she begged Jesus for a sign to make the correct choice. Decisions that I am sure she never thought she would have to make, after watching her child get held down to get toxic medications that weren’t even working.

Now, before I continue, don’t get me wrong, you can have different opinions with someone and maybe you would have done things differently. But, questioning a mother’s faith and decisions on a day she found out her child has a greater chance of dying than living...you have got to be kidding me.

I think you could probably see why I was so disappointed in the people who made these comments. With social media today, some people need to keep their mouths shut (Can I get an amen?) Unfortunately, I know without any doubt that you could probably think of a situation in your life, recently, where someone was down right not nice but claimed to be the perfect Christian.

So, now that I have convinced you that people are mean, let me convince you they aren’t, and let me tell you what we are going to do about the ones who are…

You may have joined me on this site because you follow our story on Facebook about Aria Joy. Thank you! Over the last year I have been reminded every single day that good people do exist in this world. I have had many people, who I have never met, reach out to me with positivity and prayer. We haven’t had to worry about finances, baby sitters, or food. Our army of prayer warriors is not only made up of family and friends, but also random strangers who are now family. These brothers & sisters in Christ pray each day for our family and Aria Joy, yet they have never met us.

Our “army” is the ultimate example of the good in the world. Our followers are made up of many different people, different backgrounds, different beliefs, different ideas on life, yet they come together for a sweet little girl who needs prayer, positivity and all the good vibes she can get. When we put our differences aside to realize what matters in life, and come together, the results are powerful.

Surrounding ourselves with people who uplift, encourage, support no matter what, and leave judgment for Jesus is how

true joy fills our lives.

Unfortunately, there are some people in this world that claim to walk with Jesus, yet are forgetting to love like Him. I saw a quote the other day that sums it up:

“I’m so sick of Christians in America claiming persecution. You aren’t being persecuted for loving Jesus, you are being held accountable for not acting like Him.” While there is room for argument in that statement, the sad reality is, as Christians we need to wake up and realize it is not our job to throw stones at others, we are to show them love!

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” Matthew 5:43-44

Jesus tells us flat out that we are to love those around us many times in the bible. Even our “enemies.” Even the people we don’t agree with. Even the people who have hurt us. Even the people we say nasty things on Facebook. Even people who live their life differently than we do. Even the people who didn’t vote for the same person we did. Even the leaders of our country who we may like or dislike.

You see, this isn’t a romantic love like my husband and I share. Showing God’s love is a caring nature of compassion towards someone, just like Jesus loves us all despite the sinners we are.

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:12-14

Throughout the last year, I have been reminded that there are so many good people in this world. I am choosing today to show unending, selfless, compassion, grace, patience, kindness, humility and gentleness to those around me. Even if they are mean, and my friend, I hope you will join me. God didn’t create us to cast judgement, argue our disagreements harshly, cry when we don't get our way, claim that we know best, or spew hate, He created us to be like Him. Let us not forget to love like Jesus.