“35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”
Wait. This is a blog for those who are isolated, chronically ill, and disabled. Why would you give something on loving your enemies?
These verses hit me differently this week. Currently, I am blessed to have an amazing team of doctors who are working with me to try to get as much health back as possible. However, some of the offices have less than congenial office staff who have not tried to understand needs. We have also dealt with some less than thoughtful people while assisting family members. It happens.
For those of us who deal with long-term illnesses or disability either as caregiver or patient, the medical community and insurance companies can become our enemies. Their demeanor and decisions affect our lives in profound ways that they do not even seem to understand. I have experienced my share of gas-lighting from the medical community and insurance struggles. I know the agony of the long phone calls or the grumpy, defiant, or dismissive medical workers.
Sometimes, I forget that they are people as well. They are people with their own struggles and fatigue. They are human with limitations, struggles, and other life experiences. We need to love them, do good, and treat them as Jesus would. (Yes, we do need to advocate for our health or the health of those for whom we are caregivers, but in a way that honors God.)
Why? Because God commands us to. God is kind to the unthankful and to the evil. (Oh, how often we are unthankful and evil with our sinful hearts. Yet, God is faithful to us.) God is merciful. We should also be merciful.
What does this look like in practice? Some of these things are simple, but can make a big difference.
Smile, be pleasant, ask about their day, and, as God leads, ask them how you can pray for them. (And then do pray for them, following up the next time you come in.) Treat them with patience and understanding. Send a thank you note to them or send Christmas cards.
When they are grumpy or less than kind, return that with kindness. Yes, you may need to be firm about care, but be kind. These dear workers deal with much each day. They are people who need Jesus and His love. God gives us the opportunity to show that love to them, to bring them Jesus.
I don’t know about you, but this passage hit differently today. Do you have other ideas of ways to show them love and mercy?
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