This past week was a rough one.
I learned that two people who are near and dear to me, had been diagnosed with cancer.
I believe my reaction was normal.
Disbelief, numbness, sadness, grief and anger.
A few other emotions coursed through my body before arriving at acceptance.
Then the ultimate question, “where do we go from here?’
Yes, where do WE go from here.
To help battle my blues, I attended church Sunday morning. I try to attend every Sunday, but this past Sunday morning, I could really feel God tugging at my pants.
Sometimes He knows you need to hear the message.
A few verses from the February 4 gospel according to Saint Mark, the first chapter, verses 29-34: “As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So, he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to wait on them. That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could all be like Jesus. Take their hand, help them up and their illness and problems would disappear. Allowing the afflicted to return to a normal life.
You and I both know it ain’t that simple.
But as Pastor Megan Morrow of St. John’s Lutheran Church pointed out, Mark writes that Jesus went to Simon’s mother-in-law, took her hand and helped her up.
We don’t have to be Jesus to offer the helping hand and pick someone up.
There are countless ways in which to help.
Prayer. A card of encouragement. A phone call. A text. A private note on facebook messenger. Offering to cook a meal. Assisting with grocery store shopping.
You get the idea.
Oh, and donating money.
A lot of a little equals a lot.
No one is asking you to pay off the national debt, but a few dollars here and there is certainly offering a helping hand.
One such entity in which you give to is Jane’s Closet at Box Butte General Hospital.
According to the BBGH web site:
Jane’s Closet was established in memory of Jane Wineteer, a community advocate dedicated to helping individuals battling cancer. Jane lost her battle to breast cancer in February of 2007 after being diagnosed in March of 2006. Through her trials and tribulations, Jane wanted to provide aid to others fighting the same battle. Jane was an employee of BBGH and a gracious giver. To support her vision of Jane’s Closet, she named BBGH as the beneficiary of her life insurance.
Through fundraising and gracious donations, Jane’s vision of helping others battling cancer came to life. Recipients of Jane’s Closet are eligible to receive financial assistance, comfort bags, wigs, and scarves.
Jane’s Closet was founded with the goal of assisting those in need who are battling cancer. Assistance is not limited to a specific cancer. Whether the battle is with skin, breast, or prostate cancer, Jane’s Closet is there to help. Recipients must reside in Box Butte County.
Donations may be sent to Jane’s Closet in care of BBGH at P.O. Box 810 in Alliance.
Have you donated to the Alliance Volunteer Fire Department?
During 2023, the AVFD responded to 1,016 city and rural fire calls, ambulance transports and numerous other hazardous materials and weather-related calls.
Donations may be sent to the AFVD, 315 Cheyenne Avenue, Alliance.
How ever you can extend a helping hand to any person in need is between you and God. No one is keeping score.
But I do guarantee this.
When you offer a helping hand, it kicks the devil in the butt.
And he hates that.
That’s a score worth keeping.