Offering Healing
"He went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of garments. He brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, 'When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you my servant Naaman, that you may cure him of his leprosy.' When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, 'Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me.' But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, 'Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel.'" - 2 Kings 5:5b-8
"There’s a hole in the bucket dear Liza, dear Liza. There's a hole in the bucket dear Liza, a hole. So fix it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry. So fix it dear Henry, dear Henry fix it!"
I remember singing this song in grade school. As a young child I didn't see how silly a song it was. But now as an adult, I can see how silly the banter is between an old couple, Liza and Henry, about repairing a bucket. It's silly banter, almost as silly as the King of Israel’s response to Naaman’s letter. But when you’re used to resolving problems quickly with money, or by calling an army into action, then nothing is more frustrating than a problem you don’t have the power to solve.
When someone shares their pain with me – whether physical or emotional, my heart wants to "fix it"! I want to offer suggestions, recommend doctors or treatments that might help. But in most cases, I do not have the power to fix anything, only God has this ability--to bring a person back to wholeness.
For you and I, what it takes to offer healing is a listening ear, an encouraging word, and sensitive prayers which point to the One who does have the power to heal, repair, and resolve. This is the best medicine we have to offer.