“The Arameans had…taken captive a little girl from the land…and she waited on Naaman’s wife… ‘She said to her mistress, ‘If only my master were with the prophet…then he would cure him of leprosy.’” 2 Kings 5:2-3.
This is a sweet little story with an enormous impact on the lives of those around her. This little girl had been kidnapped through an invasion of her land. It was determined that she would be a servant to the wife of a man named Naaman, a man who suffered with skin disease. This little girl could have been angry, scared or resentful to say the least. Anytime our circumstances kidnap us from our peaceful lives, we tend to become fearful, bitter or self-focused. But not this little girl on this special day. In her captivity she embraced her circumstances and served another. She not only did her job but looked beyond her on discomfort, and had the desire to make the lives of those around her better. She looked to the benefit of the other person instead of the situation in which she found herself. That is the exemplified action of love. She saw the need for healing in another person, and set aside her own present situation to help. Her wisdom, kindness and humility put into action God’s beautiful story of choosing the captive girl to give freedom to a free man being held captive by his circumstances. But this story wouldn’t have ended the same if the little girl had not fully engaged in the circumstances she found herself. She served where she was placed, she embraced her circumstances, and she had a heart for others.
I remember when I was facilitating Grief Share at my church I saw this divine phenomenon occur more times than not. Loved ones had passed and hearts were shattered. As this group met weekly for 13 weeks, I would see a few people exchange phone numbers to get together outside of the sessions. I watched parents whose hearts had been broken offer compassion and healing words to another. I witnessed the Holy Spirit work in the hearts of a few, who couldn’t forgive themselves for certain things that occurred prior to the passing of their loved ones. I watched God soften their hearts as they were bitter for the circumstances in which they found themselves. In that precious circle of pain, I watched the grievers become the comforters, and the students become the teachers. Many of those people had hearts like our little girl in the story above. One of the main reasons these groups were so helpful was because of the same motivation of heart. They were being held captive in their grief but chose to fully engage in their circumstances. They had a heart to help ease the pain of the others and the courage to reach out. I was always so blessed by these groups and still think about them often. Each one has a special place in my heart, and they are all such special people, still on their painful journey but walking in more freedom than before. Through their grief they helped others walk the journey towards healing.
‘The late author and Bible teacher Elisabeth Elliot said that one of the best pieces of advice she ever received in life was to “do the next thing.” We encounter God’s guidance as we engage and invest ourselves in our current circumstances. God is the God of right now. He calls us to not be regretful over yesterday or worried about tomorrow. He wants us focusing on what He is saying to us and putting in front of us today.’ Discerning the Voice of God, Priscilla Shirer, p. 146.
“…he did...according to the command of the man of God…Then his skin was restored and became like the skin of a small boy, and he was clean.” 2 Kings 5:14.
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