Lisa Notes: Just go

Just go

You never know what things God might bring to a day.
But you can know he wants one of those things to be you.

When we arrived at Kim’s house for our Sunday night small group study, the adults were huddled in the corner. They were listening in to Gerry’s phone conversation with our friend Amber. Minutes before—while driving to the study—her car had been hit by a truck. Her car with her beautiful baby Lillie inside.

Although injuries appeared minimal, they were being transported to the hospital by ambulance.

Cell phones started buzzing.
Texts were typed and sent.
Prayers ascended to the Father.

But what else?

Thankfully, I’m married to a goer. When in doubt, Jeff doesn’t sit and think about it—he goes.

It’s a habit I want to learn better.

Just go.
It’s what family does.
It goes.

It doesn’t just send a text.
It doesn’t just leave a message on a FB wall.
It doesn’t just send an e-mail.

It goes. In person. In body and soul.

So we went. To the emergency room. And before long, most of our Sunday night small group were also huddled there in the waiting room, taking turns visiting with Amber in her room (or in the hall—it was an overcrowded ER).

And awaiting our turn to get to hold Lillie, who had already been given the all-clear by the ER doctors and released. When my turn came, Lillie connected thumb to mouth, closed her little eyes, and shut out all the chaos.

I watched this baby I love sleep deep in my arms.
I listened to her tiny baby breaths.
And I thanked God for this outcome, and not another.

I was glad I had come.
The going had bred joy.

It was a holy moment.

Because when we go, God meets us there.
He’s family. It’s what He does.
It’s what I want to do, too.

Just go.

* * *

UPDATE:
Would you please pray for another sweet family
who did lose their baby this week? Thank you.

Sometimes it’s hard to know—when to stay home or when to go?

When have you been glad you showed up?

(Oh, and Amber got to go home that night with Lillie and her husband Adam. Bruised and sore, but very grateful.)

2012: My year to...

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happygirl · 696 weeks ago

I'm glad your husband went to the ER. I always fear I'll "be in the way" or I'll be unwelcome. I'm glad your friends are ok. Accidents are so frightening.

1 reply · active 696 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 696 weeks ago

I have those same concerns--that I'll end up being a bother. But usually that's not the case. And if it is, we can always leave, right? :-)

My recent post Just go

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Julie · 696 weeks ago

Praise the Lord!..Doesn't it just make your heart relocate into your throat in those "moments"??...oh yes....it is a "what to do!" battle in the heart and with the mind...I love that "compassion has legs" response too! rah...When in doubt...LISTEN to your heart...Tell your mind it is "THINKING too much" and to chill. ...and as your hubby did...(KUDOS) GO! so glad everybody is okay...precious little cherub...God was watching - angels were intervening...wonderful heavenly agents - bodyguards for our souls...thanks for sharing. It inspires us to GO next time we may have something like this happen in our corner of the world. Love you Lisa!
My recent post Wednesday "What I Like" post

1 reply · active 696 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 696 weeks ago

Praising the Lord with you, Julie. I'm so thankful God let my friends be spared. And thankful for Jeff's willingness to not overthink things (I'm the one who has that cornered!). Love you too!
My recent post Just go

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Messy Marriage · 696 weeks ago

You have such a servant's heart, Lisa. Always you challenge us to put aside our own agenda and be the hands and feet of Christ. Beautiful! Thank you so much! :)

1 reply · active 696 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 696 weeks ago

I have such a blemished heart, actually. :-( But I do want to do better, be better. Only by the grace of God.
My recent post Just go

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barbarah 65p · 696 weeks ago

So glad they're ok. I do tend to stay back more than I go. Hard to know sometimes which is the best to do. Our pastor said one time that people tended to ask him how people were doing who were ill or having a crisis, and he encouraged us to ask that person ourselves. He said he'd love to go to someone's house who is having some sort of crisis and find 20 cars already there. And I thought, "If that were me having the crisis, I sure wouldn't want 20 cars at my house!" But I guess it would depend on the crisis. As you said in response to the first comment, it's probably good to go and then leave if you can see it's too much for the person. OTOH, it's hard if no one shows up -- probably harder -- so it's probably better to err on the side of going.
My recent post Hobbies

3 replies · active 696 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 696 weeks ago

I agree with you—we do have to use discernment. Consider the situation. And consider the people involved.

We recently had a friend’s mother die—our friend wanted lots of phone calls the next week to help her get through it. But me? If people had constantly been calling me after my mother died, it would have stressed me out more. So we definitely need to pray that we do the most helpful thing for the person we’re trying to help, and that will vary.

There have been lots of hospital visits Jeff and I have made because I’ve made him promise that we’ll only stay 5 minutes. ;-) Because if I’d just had surgery, I can’t imagine I’d want people sitting around staring at me in pain. But maybe that’s just me. Ha. A short visit though—that would be sweet.

My recent post Just go

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Paula · 696 weeks ago

It's not just you Lisa, I'm the same way. Don't want lots of people around when I'm in pain, physical or emotional. So it's hard for me to discern what somebody else would like in the same situation.
My recent post Which Vacuum-Pack Machine Should I Buy to Make Salad in a Jar?

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Lisa notes 103p · 696 weeks ago

Yes, you get it. It's had to see others through eyes other than our own. All the more reason I should be thankful that my husband is different from me...he has a vision I don't, and vice-versa. We must share.
My recent post Just go

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Christine · 696 weeks ago

Praise God for this outcome! She will always remember that her supporters showed up. And next time she is in need, she'll remember that God was there last time, in the form of loving supporters. The memories will help get her through. I need to remember to "just go" too, as a shy person who wonders if she'll be in the way or say the wrong thing.

1 reply · active 696 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 696 weeks ago

One of the interesting things I learned after my baby died was that silence from my friends was often far more painful than if they said the "wrong" thing. I began wondering if they'd forgotten I had just lost my child, when in reality they were trying to shield me from more pain by not bringing it up.

But it caused me more pain to not hear them mention her at all. It was a learning process for all of us! Saying something--or just showing up with a hug!--is usually preferred to ignoring the situation altogether.

When given in love, grace will cover most of our wrong words. ;-) That's what I pray anyway because I know I still often say the wrong things to people in the name of trying to help. We all need mercy--both on those hurting and those seeking to help.
My recent post Just go

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Cathy · 696 weeks ago

Compassion is for all...
My recent post The Continuing Misadventures of Mrs. Li ~ 3

1 reply · active 696 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 696 weeks ago

Yes. As He sends rain on the just and the unjust, so also His compassion.
My recent post Just go

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floyd · 696 weeks ago

Oh man... That's the kind of stuff we all dread... God had His mighty hand on them. He is merciful... You're also blessed with a man who is just that... A real man. It's nice to hear you give him that respect, that seems to be something that is missing from our world these days.

Thank God for His protection over all of them, especially that sweet baby...
My recent post MERMAID MAN

1 reply · active 696 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 696 weeks ago

Yes, Floyd, I have definitely been blessed with a real man. As a woman I probably fight against that from time to time from my own sin nature, but in my brighter moments, I pay attention to his lead, and even in my dimmer moments, I KNOW I am blessed that God put Jeff into my life.
My recent post Just go

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imperfect prose · 696 weeks ago

oh... life is so, so short... so fragile. yes, we must go. thank you lisa. and what a beautiful photo of you...

1 reply · active 696 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 696 weeks ago

Thank you, Emily. You're living the "going" in the staying with your baby and boys. Precious lives, each one.
My recent post Just go

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Amber · 696 weeks ago

I'm so grateful you came!! I felt so loved. I love you! Oh, and I'm glad you're blogging again. ;)

1 reply · active 696 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 696 weeks ago

You ARE so loved, Amber! It would be impossible not to love you. You have a true gift from God to make everyone feel so special.

And I'm glad to be blogging again too. Thanks. :-)
My recent post Just go

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Sharon O · 696 weeks ago

So glad they were ok, what a scare. baby is adorable.

1 reply · active 696 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 696 weeks ago

It was definitely a scare. And yes, Lillie is SO adorable, both in pictures and in person. A treasure.
My recent post Just go

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journeytoepiphany 45p · 696 weeks ago

Small groups are so wonderful. I've always been glad that I went. Hospitals, funerals, graduations, weddings, and an occasional school play. It shows love on a completely different level.

1 reply · active 696 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 696 weeks ago

You're right, it does. Anytime that I've been in those places, I was ALWAYS glad to have others show up. And now that I think about it, my current small group has come for me at funerals, graduations, weddings, and school plays. I feel loved. :-)
My recent post Just go

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Caroline · 696 weeks ago

You end your posts with such power and truth, Lisa. I love that about your writing. (It's a gift God has given you.)

Love this: "I was glad I had come.
The going had bred joy.

It was a holy moment.

Because when we go, God meets us there.
He’s family. It’s what He does.
It’s what I want to do, too.

Just go."

Praying to act on His nudges to GO!
My recent post A Few Thoughts on Joy

1 reply · active 696 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 696 weeks ago

You encourage me, Caroline, both in the words you leave here and in your own writings. I know you've been through a lot lately so I pray your going doesn't involve the hospital for awhile. ;-) Blessings to you, friend.
My recent post Just go

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brian miller · 696 weeks ago

smiles...nice...and it means so much to be there...you create a moment and god steps in to use it...nice post

1 reply · active 696 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 696 weeks ago

"God steps in to use it" - nice words yourself, Brian. Thanks.
My recent post Just go

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Christy · 696 weeks ago

So so true Lisa-thanks for the touching post and so glad your friends are ok! It is amazing how we can tangibly feel God in those "go" moments.
My recent post Moon Chasers

1 reply · active 696 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 696 weeks ago

Yes, I love those moments when his presence is so tangible!
My recent post Just go

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Nikole Hahn · 696 weeks ago

We did that when my sister in law went into labor late at night. Drove two hours down to surprise the family in the waiting room.
My recent post Why The Long Face?

1 reply · active 696 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 696 weeks ago

That's wonderful. I'm sure everybody involved was blessed by your trip. Valuable memories made.
My recent post Just go

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Katie · 696 weeks ago

I am grateful for the times family came to ER for me or my husband. I have gone to be with others also. It is a blessing all the way around and then people know they are loved and cared for. The time I took my husband to the ER and it was the middle of the night and I waited outside alone in the waiting room...... it was so much harder than the time people descended and were there to keep my company.

1 reply · active 696 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 696 weeks ago

Thanks for sharing that, Katie. You are living proof that "going" is worth it.

I remember when my friend Kathy was in Intensive Care, and we would hang out in the waiting room for hours at a time. Even for us as the visitors, we felt blessed when other people would also come sit in the waiting room and visit with us.

So even visiting with the other visitors is a blessing.
My recent post Where to go when you can’t get there

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Jennifer · 696 weeks ago

"I was glad I had come. The going had bred joy. It was a holy moment." That's beautiful, Lisa. I'm so glad everything is okay.

I read your newest blog post. Know I will be lifting Aselya, her husband, and you up in prayers.

Hugs!
My recent post J.O.Y.

1 reply · active 696 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 696 weeks ago

Thanks for your prayers, Jennifer. I know the Lord is listening.
My recent post Where to go when you can’t get there

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HopeUnbroken · 696 weeks ago

this is so convicting. too many times i just want to STAY! not necessarily because i don't want to go, but because there are just so many reasons to NOT go. but love in action--that's what you've shown here. we've gotten too used to sending our love via technology. it is hard to be present, but oh so necessary.
thanks for this sharing. i really appreciated it.
steph
My recent post ivory keys::the sounds of joy

1 reply · active 695 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 695 weeks ago

It is definitely so easy to use technology to send our love instead of bring our love in person. I still love my technology--it goes SO many places I can't--but when possible, I do want to go more in person too. Praying for both of us to "go" more.
My recent post Five little babies…in the beginning

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Courtney · 695 weeks ago

This is a great message for today's world. I'm guilty of letting technology make me feel connected, but it will never replace in person contact. Thank you for that reminder.
My recent post Weekend Word: Wind

1 reply · active 695 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 695 weeks ago

I'm having my 16-yr-old read "The Next Story" by Tim Challies. She sees it as a bashing of technology, but it's really not; just a warning to use it discerningly. I'd be the last one to want to get rid of my technology. ;-)

But yes, we do have to keep it from replacing personal contact. May that never happen.
My recent post Five little babies…in the beginning

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