READ: MATTHEW 15: 29-31
A vast crowd brought him the lame, blind, crippled, mute and many others with physical difficulties and laid them before Jesus. And he healed them all. (V. 30)
March was a month that left me feeling broken and alone because of two terrible incidents in my police career that had altered my life. First, on Sunday March 18, 1973, while I was responding to an officer in trouble call, I was involved in a fatal on-duty police vehicle crash. A young lady pulled directly into the path of my cruiser in deference to my emergency equipment. Sadly, she died in my arms that afternoon waiting for the arrival of emergency medical personnel. Second, on Monday, March 29, 1976, one of my best friends died after being shot by a fleeing bank robber the previous Friday, March 26th. Both incidents left me emotionally and spiritually crushed. March became a difficult month for me to navigate, despite the passing of many years.
A few days after the vehicle crash, while I was waiting for the completion of the official investigation, Christ took me into the arms of the Pastor of the church we had just started to attend. He assured me that God loved me and forgave me for taking what I considered an innocent life, even though the crash was not my fault. Healing actively began when he wrapped his arms around me and spoke the words of Jesus love, mercy and grace into my ears. Following my friend John’s line of duty death, the Holy Spirit began to lead me on a healing journey marked by periods of intense heart burdened grief followed by the peace of knowing John was serving God in Heaven. But honestly, March still produced times of sadness and depression as I relived each event. I continually thought of John and the young lady, both taken far too soon from their earthly lives and families.
However, I was never alone as Jesus continued to actively monitor my March spiritual condition. In the midst of the COVID pandemic, at 10:36 PM, on March 29, 2020, my first great grandson, Kelic Lloyd Leatherman entered into the world. Suddenly, complete and thankful joy consumed my soul as this precious gift from God was safely born during a full-blown world pandemic. So, on the anniversary of John’s untimely death came the timely birth of Kelic, completing the circle of life and bringing Jesus’ healing touch directly to my soul. The timing was perfect– but faith in Christ always works that way!
PAUSE FOR REFLECTION AND PRAYER
Where in your life do you need the healing touch of Christ today? Cry out to him in your anguish and get ready for the flow of his healing power—frequently provided in unexpected ways and times. Mine flowed in the transition from John to Kelic–know Christ stands ready to set yours in motion.
Dear Jesus, help each of us seek to and embrace your ever-present healing touch.