Presence is near to those who are suffering

Mike Parry is a local pastor who writes on Facebook.  Since I know and like him, I like to read his words.  Often Facebook is one big skip after another for me, but I don't skip over any entry from Mike.  Most of the time it is a Scripture and today was no exception:   "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit!"  Psalm 34:18.  Been there; had that;  healed by the Presence of God and those around me who carried out the Ministry of Presence.   Could not have gotten out of the bed had I not been surrounded by Presence. 

Today I am reminded that that Presence is extended to all of God's creatures.

 

A mother tiger lost her cubs due to premature labor.  Soon she became depressed and her health began to decline.  Someone diagnosed her with  depression and concerned people began wondering about how to save this endangered specie.  "Zoologists wrapped piglets up in tiger-print cloth and presented them to the mother tiger.  She now loves these piglets and treats them like her own."

 

Surely, all of God's creatures have feelings.  Surely, all of God's creatures whose feelings have been scarred, messed with, violated, insulted, damaged and/or ignored need to find presence in our circumstances.   A huge shoutout to the person who wrapped up a substitute in the same kind of cloth and made the presentation.  That, my friend, took the courage of conviction.

 

Let us be renewed as we seek to become that presence to someone!  I continue to be one of the grateful recipients.