A True Act of Love

There are many small communities within the large community that is Salem First Baptist Church.  This is a story about one community within the body.  It tells of speaking the language of love into the lives of one of its families in the midst of their trial. 

While on an extended adventure, traveling without a specific timeline, illness showed up.  A husband, father, grandfather, fell ill.  Not just a fleeting illness but leukemia.  He was admitted to the hospital immediately and chemotherapy was prescribed.  Not just one round of treatment but several rounds with much time in between.  Thankfully they were able to move in with family members for the duration of the treatment.  This was a godsend for them. 

Back in Oregon the larger community that is First Baptist and the smaller community that is the family’s community group, began to pray.   They prayed for healing, patience, endurance and the peace of Christ on this family.  They also prayed for all of the people caring for them and the treatments that were given.

It is at the beginning of this time that two women in the smaller community at First Baptist had an idea.  Not just any idea but, in fact it was laid on their hearts to do something tangible for their friends.  But what could they do with so many miles between them?  Here’s what happened next: small gifts, “pick me ups”, were sent; CDs, verses, coffee gift cards, slippers, word puzzles, just some of the things sent.  They truly were just little reminders for their friends that they were really being thought of.

These little pick me ups were sent every two or three weeks and during that time something was also happening to the two women.  As they prayed for and thought about their friends daily, weekly, and monthly, they found that their love for them just expanded in a way they never expected. 

After months away it was finally time to come home.  The treatments, setbacks, and hospitalizations could be put in the past.  It was time to look forward.

With so many months away from home there was work to be done at the house in Salem.  Their own families were hard at work sprucing up, but lots more inside and out of this large house needed to be done.  Overwhelming!

Two smaller community groups from SFB came together to speak the language of love in a tangible way.  One group was the family’s community group and the other didn’t even know the family.   A true act of love.

On a Sunday afternoon approximately 22 people came together at the home for a work party.  Inside, the bathrooms were cleaned, the kitchen was wiped down and dusting throughout the house was done.  One dear soul cleaned window blinds one slat at a time!

Outside, a large crew pulled weeds, raked, mowed, sprayed and all kinds of other outdoor projects were accomplished.  By the time the dinner bell sounded a group of sweaty, happy people were more than ready to eat!  Yes, being a community of Baptists, there was food and fellowship!

The family is home now and they remain in the Lord’s hands.  They feel love and are loved by the community that is Salem First Baptist!

In His faithful grip,

Laura Von Flue