The Glow of Joy's Compassion

Hello faithful family, friends, and followers. We hope that you are able to enjoy the beautiful fall we have been experiencing. It seemed like the trees were late to turn to their bright autumn colors, but at least here in Minneapolis, they appear to have made up for lost time last weekend. The blog cover photo and selfie at the end are from our time along the Mississippi River last Saturday just minutes from our home.

We hope to enjoy more scenic beauty Saturday as we travel down to Joy’s bother Dan’s home in northeastern Iowa to celebrate, one day early, Joy’s mother Ruth’s 98th birthday. We will be joined by Joy’s brothers Steve from Michigan and David from Ohio as well. It should be a special time together. Thankfully Ruth is in good health, all things considered, and we are looking forward to our day celebrating her.

While Ruth’s birthday is cause for celebration, so is what’s happening as I write this post. Joy is in the kitchen baking two kinds of pumpkin muffins, baked oatmeal, and monster cookies to share with family and to take to Ruth for her to enjoy. It is a celebration for both Joy and I to have her be able to read the recipes, find the correct ingredients, and successfully make the muffins, oatmeal, and cookies. We both clearly remember a little more than a year ago, when Joy decided she wanted to make baked oatmeal. Even with me by her side, the attempt quickly devolved into tears and frustrated exasperation. She could not read the words on the recipe card, could not read the ingredients, let alone find them in the cupboard or refrigerator. Something she could remember she had done countless times before was beyond her reach. At the time, it was painful, today her amazing progress over the last year was reason for celebration.

On top of celebrating muffins and cookies, this week I have also been especially aware of and blessed by Joy’s amazing capacity and tenderheartedness in showing compassion to almost everyone she meets and for many she cares for and prays for from a distance. Of course there are those you might guess like our immediate and extended family, close friends and their extended families, etc., but Joy doesn’t stop there. Out of the blue she’ll share, “I’ve just really had this person or that person on my heart and have been praying for them and hope they are doing o.k.” Or, “I am so moved by so-and-so and I hope with all they are having to handle right now that they are alright, I’m praying for them too.” People who aren't even on my radar, earn a place in Joy’s heart that overflows with kindness even with her compromised cognition.

Compassion and prayer have been a central theme of Joy’s recovery. Even before she could speak after the accident or even understand language, hearing it or speaking it, she shares of being aware of talking with God and praying for others. While she couldn’t quote it, she still remembered the truth of Romans 8:26-27, “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.”

I marvel at this capacity of Joy for compassion which reaches so beyond herself. I mean if the accident had left me blind on the right side, struggling for the most basic words, unable to remember knowledge acquired in multiple degrees and two professions, never able to drive again, dependent on others, I think I’d feel justified in being a bit of a curmudgeon. I mean after all… But not Joy, she has used her wounds and losses to heighten her awareness of the needs of others and responds to those needs with inspiring kindness and sensitivity.

I am truly blessed to live daily in the glow of this compassion and praise God for the marvelous grace and mercy which kept Joy alive through the trauma of the accident and that despite physical and cognitive limitations, allows her to shine. And so we’ll leave you with our reading from Psalms 86 this week that expresses our dependence, gratitude, thankfulness, and praise so well…

“Bend down, O LORD, and hear my prayer;

answer me, for I need your help.

Protect me, for I am devoted to you.

Save me, for I serve you and trust you.

You are my God.

Be merciful to me, O Lord,

for I am calling on you constantly.

Give me happiness, O Lord,

for I give myself to you.

O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,

so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.

Listen closely to my prayer, O LORD;

hear my urgent cry.

I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble,

and you will answer me…

Teach me your ways, O LORD,

that I may live according to your truth!

Grant me purity of heart,

so that I may honor you.

With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.

I will give glory to your name forever,

for your love for me is very great.

You have rescued me from the depths of death.”