Abish

When I read the story of Abish, I am touched by her example of Christ-like love and service.  When I look closely at these verses of scripture, I can pinpoint three things she did that made a difference in the queen’s life…three things that any covenant-keeping woman would do for another in need.

She came.

She loved.

She lifted.

Abish came to the queen’s side in her hour of need.  She did not decide that someone else would be better qualified to deal with the problem and shrink into the shadows.  She did not leave it to another to step up, to be there, and to come to the aid of her beloved queen.  She did not hesitate.  She came.

Abish loved the queen,

and because she loved her, she was able to lift her in her time of need.

Like the queen, my life has been blessed by others that have come, and loved, and lifted me during times of trial and distress.

Almost three years ago, my husband and I arrived early one morning at Primary Children’s Hospital to have an Echocardiogram performed on our unborn baby’s heart.  While the doctors had previously assured us that they believed all was well, we left the hospital that morning with the devastating news that our daughter had a series of life-threatening heart defects.  Three months later, Annie was born and we began a journey with her that, while sacred and sweet, at times left me paralyzed with sadness, fear and grief. 

While my baby girl was fighting for her life, my five older children were still living theirs.  They still needed clean clothes to wear and rides to school, food on the table and help with their homework.  The weeds in my yard did not stop growing.  The dishes in my sink did not stop piling up.  My bathrooms still got dirty.  My kitchen floor still got sticky.

And, all the while, I felt like I was hanging on by my fingernails, just trying to cope with what was happening in Annie’s hospital room.

My life should have been a disaster.  Any one person could have fairly judged my situation to be beyond their ability, and left it for someone else to remedy.

Thankfully, that is not what happened.

Thankfully, my life is filled with covenant-keeping women who did not hesitate to come, to love and to lift. 

These women showed up.

They showed up in my kitchen, in my laundry room and even in my flower beds.  They came to the hospital; they came to my kids’ schools; they came to my door step; and eventually, they came to Annie’s funeral.  

These women loved me and their love helped to carry me through the darkest time in my life.

With their love and acts of service, each of these women lifted a piece of my impossible burden.

Each lifted me.

I will forever be grateful to these covenant-keeping women, who like Abish, did not hesitate to come, to love and to lift.