Earlier this month, a friend of mine taught me one of the most valuable lessons of this year. This was a lesson that I had to experience through vulnerability to learn its truly powerful effect that it can have. The story goes like this:
Hummus is one of my weaknesses, I am not sure why, but I really love it. A
friend of mine was eating some of it a few weeks ago, and I would have gone and
eaten it with her, however I had to be somewhere else. I instantly found a solution to my lack of hummus: I decided to bring a cup over to my friend, scoop some of the hummus and take it with me.
I was wearing my gloves that day; my hands were a little sore that night. My friend noticed the blue, fingerless gloves upon my hands, and she knew what that meant for me. She looked me directly in my eyes and held them there, as I sat next to her. She smiled ever so slightly, slowly took the cup from my hands without ever breaking eye contact and scooped the hummus for me. As she placed the cup back in my hands, she smiled again and just touched me, still with her gaze holding mine.
It was a mere moment before I broke down, weeping. Truly, I cannot describe it, but I was so beyond touched that my friend would serve me in such a gentle way, even when I had not told her that my hands were hurting. She served me, no words needed, just a look, an act and a touch. I could barely contain my heart--I felt as if my heart was filled and pouring over with gratitude, feeling loved, and a sense of hope and joy. I threw myself into her arms and we sat there for a few heartbeats, with tears in both of our eyes.
That moment will forever be ingrained in my heart, and now I truly realize what great power we hold when we get to know another.
I have always believed that my primary love language is Words of Affirmation; in fact, I believed everyone’s love language was Words of Affirmation because they seem so meaningful—and they are. However, over the past few months, I am learning that I have greatly underestimated the power of touch, and acts of service.
I love affirming people—there is something about edifying, or encouraging someone at just the right time that makes my heart soar. In those moments, I feel so in step with the Holy Spirit aiding and guiding my words to other people at just the perfect moment. Simply to see the spark of light enter their eyes is enough— I feel like it is a little piece of heaven and hope that enters someone in those moments. I feel like I will never tire of it. I love it. (I am also a writer, so words are quite important, I suppose. Maybe that is one reason why I love affirmation). However, while I love affirming, I am realizing how much I am affected—emotionally; from a heart-standpoint—when people serve me, or place a gentle hand upon my shoulder when I need it; I am amazed. Challenging me to stand there, bare and vulnerable, in front of the one serving me because there is no front or cover up I could make for where I was at in those moments, no excuse for what I was—but they didn’t care about that stuff. All they cared about was me, my heart; they were doing something for me.
Specifically for me. Simply to love on me.
My friend served me in a way that if she were to do it for someone else, it would be seen as sweet—almost like holding the door open for a stranger, they would be touched. However, she did something for me that was purposefully to serve and protect my individual heart.
It is interesting how a simple act can teach me so much about the heart of Jesus. The way my friend served me, simply touched me, reflects in a small way, the heart of Jesus. Yet to imagine how much more magnified is the act of Jesus raising from the dead, with you and me written on His heart, ingrained upon His mind as if He cannot think of anything else; He chose to think of us, chose to serve us; to give Himself up for us, all of us. You and me.
And He did that with an act. He did it through a touch to the lame so that they may walk. He knelt at his disciples feet, tenderly washing, and gently drying each and every one. He did it with a look of His all-loving, all-powerful, all-knowing eyes. And we stand there, vulnerable and bare, with nothing we can do, nothing we can say; because we see His heart wants to serve us in our vulnerability and lack of ability to do anything back. He did it for us. He did it for our hearts.
Words are so important and so valuable. Yet through my friends simple but meaningful service, I realize we can reflect the heart of Jesus in a moment, even without words. Just a steady, loving look in another’s eyes; a sweet, gentle touch to someone that is hurting, a small act of service to others, even when they don’t know they need it, just because you want to show you care; you can shine the heart of Jesus. And that is something that I desire to be like in my life; I pray that when people see me, they think, “Her heart looks like His heart.” And praise God, He’s giving us an opportunity, and He left us an example. Through Touch, Service, a Look, and sometimes with Words. We get to reflect His heart to others.
I want to serve.
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” - Philippians 2:5-8
