So, I went to see Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello. It was beautiful to see the grounds and his house, his books, his creative inventions. But I must say that Thomas didn't really capture my attention as much as this grave stone I noticed walking past the old family graveyard. "She went about doing good and set at liberty them that are bruised."
What a summary of this woman's life! Oh, I could only pray for such a conclusion of mine.
See, what I know, what I am learning more and more as I continue this journey called life, is that there are bruises all around us, in the people we see everyday. It is a fact of living in this fallen world that is filled with stress, pain, struggles, fear, sickness, death.
The truth is this, Christ is freedom...there is no liberty to be found apart from Him, so this woman must have known Him, must have known His powerful word. James 1:25 talks about the Word being the perfect law that gives freedom! She surely must have known this along with His tender love, and His cleansing forgiveness, because you cannot extend to others what you know nothing about.
She also must have had some bruises. Is anyone exempt from that? The Word tells us that we are given comfort so that we have comfort to give. I think a bruise recognizes a bruise. Our bruisings and hurts give us a keen discernment to the ones found in those around us. We recognize the despair of a situation and extend freedom and hope by saying, "I've been there, He helped me, He can help you too."
This I know to be true...on my own, I got nothing good to extend to anyone. Wrong sized bandages. Expired ointment. Missing gauze. Queasy stomach. I myself cannot offer liberty to anyone, but I can help love them in their wounds, and lead them to the One who has the salve that can heal their bruisings.
Lord, by your amazing grace alone, help me have your eyes to see the bruises in those around me. To care enough to ask, and pray, and love, and listen, and help when I can...but mostly to extend to others the Truth and Freedom and Grace and Hope found in You alone.
I wonder if the lady with this gravestone knew. You know, knew that she was known for loving people like that. Or maybe she just knew lots about bruises, found a soft and sweet freedom in the One with the salve, and spent the rest of her days pouring that out onto those around her. what a life indeed.