Thursday, May 29, 2008

Otherish

Seth. Our first. A son. Beloved from the moment we knew we'd welcome him into the world. Now 10 days old. Small. Precious. A nursing infant. Natural and intimate he was sustained by Melanie.

Pain. Somethings wrong. A lump. Fevered and drained of life as she sustained life. Mastitis. Medicines prescribed & nursing recommended to counter the infection. An intimate act now torturous. Melanie shuddered each time he nursed. Crying out in exhausted whisper, "Oh, Little Man, you got to help Mama get better. Help Mama." She wept. He nursed.

Broken. I wept. I prayed. I served.

The best I could. As long as it took.

Years later, not of my own ingenuity, but guided by a marriage retreat questionnaire I asked Melanie, "When did you feel most loved by me?"

"When you took care of us when I had mastitis with Seth," immediately came her undoubted reply.

I never knew. I never would have guessed. I am glad I asked.

Selfish is easy. It comes natural.

Otherish is not. Not easy. Not natural. It is the other-centered, other-worldly, supernatural, agape love of God flowing through us.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear Friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:10-11

3 comments:

Andrea said...

Thanks for the sermon today, Aaron. When I cry a bit during the prayer afterward, I know you that God was talking to me today through you. Keep up the good work!

Andi Hawkins said...

Well how about you go ahead and make me cry! I know the pain of mastitis very well. I remember my own son waking in the night to nurse and me falling apart in tears because it was sheer torture. It wasn't just the physical pain, but the infringement on our mother child intitmacy. Beautifully written. I hope your sermon flows freely from your thoughts!

Andi Hawkins said...

We are not far from Ft. W. I kinda dont give details over the net cuz my kids pics and names are all over my page. (KWIM?) BTW I love your "Unreached People of the Day." Never seen that before. Very cool. Take care!