“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Two days ago I learned about a family with a baby that has a congenital disease that makes him especially vulnerable to the COVID virus. In order to feed their baby they need to buy special nutrients and have them delivered at home. This family wrote a note of gratitude to the Amazon driver stating how essential their service was due to the condition of their baby. Several days later with their door camera they recorded something very unusual, the delivery woman from Amazon will pray for them as soon as she delivered the box in their porch. She would pause and pray, ending her prayer with the sign of the cross.
If you know something about Amazon, they don’t like pauses. Their workers need to be as expeditious and as efficient as they can be, pushing it even to inhuman levels. But this woman was doing the most rebellious –and most humane, act an Amazon delivery, essential worker could do.
An act of gratitude compelled a complete stranger to do an act of profound caring. It is so uplifting how these random, simple acts express a fundamental truth that is so sweet for any human soul: you matter and I care about you.
Not only do I care, I will lift you up to our Creator. To the God of all comfort, that by comforting me in all my troubles, makes it possible for me to comfort you.
This lady has inspired me to be more conscious about praying for all the people I’m encountering on my day. I’m aware of the levels of anxiety and depression most people are suffering due to the situation. I’m especially aware those feelings are caused by fear, not only of the disease, but fear of others, of being even more lonely, of losing whatever we consider our rights, our jobs, our identities. There is so much fear, irrational fear. It alienates us.
“Lord, I see the people around me and I see their suffering and anguish. I lift them up to you so you may relieve their pain and anxiety. Help me show them your face and love. May they walk away from me comforted, connected, and acknowledged. May my acts and prayers lead them to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Liliana Mariano