SCRIPTURE:
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Matthew 8:3
TESTIMONY: (Written by Regina Aycock)
My mother had the most wonderful mother. I called her Mamaw. One of the warmest, sweetest memories of my childhood happened in Mamaw’s kitchen. She had a huge, round oak table where we would sit and sip hot tea from little China cups. She would tell me stories that taught me and made me laugh. We would look out her kitchen window and talk about the birds. Oh how she loved them and their Maker! The red cardinal was her favorite. “Regina,” she would say, “Just look at those birds. The Father feeds them each day. And look at their coloring. He clothes them beautifully.
They have no worries. You and I shouldn’t either. He loves us much more than the birds.”
So, all through the years of my life, I don’t see a cardinal without thinking of Mamaw. And my mother. They were her favorite too. I have seen them both in my yard, as well as flying right in front of me as I drive. However, the most memorable one was the cardinal who visited daily during an extremely difficult year of my life. He would come each day and sit at my family room window. Sometimes he would tap on the window, but mostly he’d just sit there. A friend once commented that she didn’t know how I withstood that bird at my window each day, but I told her I felt honored he was there.
Two years ago this month, Jesus called my precious mother home to be with Him. I was blessed to have her in our home, to care for her, to hold her hand, and to be with her both day and night during the last week of her life. Although I would never wish her back, the circumstances around her death made it very difficult. Oh, how I ached. But because of the loving- kindness of our Father, and having my precious family by my side, I was able to get through. The burial had to be one week after her service.
The morning came and it was 23 degrees outside. Everyone in my family had a stomach virus with a fever, and I had to go alone. It was windy, and it was cold, and it was sad. I sat shivering and prayed with all my heart: “Jesus, please hold me.” Flowers couldn’t be left due to restrictions at the time, so I had to go back later that day to take them. “Jesus, please carry me.”
The next day I went back to work. I was nowhere near ready, but I had missed many days and needed to get back. One of our dear teachers and her sweet daughter came into my office and said, “ Ms Aycock, we have always felt the cardinal is a messenger and Ellie wanted to paint this for you.” It was a beautiful, red cardinal. Tears streamed down my cheeks, and after I hugged and thanked them, my Principal told me to please go home and take a few more days. I drove home and walked into the house feeling weary. I went to the kitchen sink to wash my hands and looked out my window. There were no leaves on the trees that cold, dreary day, but there right in front of me, sat one of the most beautiful red cardinals I’ve ever seen. More tears. Jesus knew. He had reached out to touch me. I willingly stood and allowed Him to tenderly cover me. To heal me. I thanked Him. I praised Him. And I lay down to rest.
Oh, how I love Jesus. Oh, how I love Jesus. Oh, how I love Jesus. Because He first loved me.
RESPOND:
- What do you hear of the tenderness of Jesus in this story?
- How are you invited to receive His tenderness for you this day?
PRAYER:
Gracious loving Father, thank you for seeing each of your children just as we are. Thank you for meeting us and for going ahead of us each day. Lord, form yourself in us. The tenderness which you offer us, let us have the courage to receive it, and God, as we receive it, ensure that we are formed and transformed by your loving-kind- ness in such a way that the world around us is also touched by your loving kindness through us. Amen
