Heavenly Cough Syrup

A few weeks ago, my daughter and granddaughter were on the way to the pharmacy. Both had sore throats and were in need of some relief. From the back seat, Boo inquired, "Mommy, why don't we just go up to heaven and see Jesus? He can heal our sore throats." Our granddaughter has learned that Jesus can heal, and that He is currently in heaven. And apparently that He can be trusted. So our daughter had to explain how we can't go to heaven just any time we want, but that His angels and the Holy Spirit will minister to us here until we are able to join Him when He returns.

But Boo is right about heaven, nonetheless. Revelation 21:4 says, "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." And in Chapter 22, verse 2, we read, "In the middle of its street, and either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." So, yes, there is healing and comfort where Jesus is.

That is how it was when He was on earth. Wherever He walked, healing accompanied Him, both the spiritual and physical kinds. Have we become so sophisticated with our modern lives that we shut out the possibility that He can still touch us, and bring relief and comfort? Is there still room for faith to bring healing in the busy lives of today's Christian? I think so.

Miracles can still happen. Even more, I think the Lord would have each of us be ministering spirits to one another. We need to pray for each other, We can shower each other with love and care. We must be willing to be God's hands and voice. And that brings me to the little ones we work with on a daily basis.

Here at our school, as at probably every school in the world, there is suffering of all kinds. Some of it is spiritual. Much of it comes from a sense of physical need. And then there is the emotional neediness. The children may not even know about the healing Lord in heaven who would love to hold them, to reassure them, and comfort them. To what extent are we able and willing to be Christ's hands, feet and voice? When our children enter the school, do we try to provide them a small heaven-on-earth? Our attentiveness, our tone of voice, our approach to the hurting heart can do so much along this line. It is my prayer that, daily, we each might be able to lift the countenance and spirits of every suffering child that passes us in the hallway, on the playground, wherever we come in contact with them. And, by the way, try it with the adults you encounter. They might be in need of some heavnely cough syrup, too!

Dr. G