ICUs are challenging places. They house the vulnerable, who apart from professional service, cannot survive. Between my father being hit by a truck, me breaking my neck and our two children starting as premies, my wife and I have spent our fair share of time in critical care units.
As my bride sat with our daughter in the heaviness of the NICU last Saturday, something beautiful happened. An army of loving people ascended on the unit, wearing red shirts with “Serve Team” across their chests. They brought diapers, baby clothes, mommy essentials, refreshments and much more. They loved on worn-out mothers, many having children on the brink of death. In all they did, they valiantly shared and showed the love of Christ to needy people.
My wife was moved by their love for her, but floored by the platform this gave her as an insider. While she took care of our daughter, she had been serving other moms. She had been buying devotionals and consoling women who were losing their babies. She’d grown weary having spent hours walking alongside a mom who birthed early under hardship and feared abuse on return if her child survived. But joy flooded in at the hands of this groups service and it prompted chatter, “maybe these people are different,” “maybe I can find hope.”
The heavy hearts that had filled a space, were lifted, and even my ever-resilient sweetheart got the shot in the arm she needed. As they left, Audrey pulled one of the visitors aside and said, “I will handle follow up from the inside." How beautiful indeed when lovers of Jesus, who actively reach the hurting, take time to serve the servants.
Luke 12:37 “The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat!”
Proverbs 11:25 “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”
- Micah McElveen