I watched from across the hospital room as one of my dearest friends briefly yet graciously greeted each of her visitors. No doubt, her brave and calm demeanor was the result of putting all into the hands of her faithful Savior. Only that morning, my friend had received the grim news that her unbearable abdominal pain was not her gall bladder going defunct. Instead, it was another matter which the scalpel had laid bare: she had cancer. It was everywhere. We talked on the phone while she was still groggy from the anesthesia. She asked if I would come and paint her toenails. 

Aileen was sitting upright in her hospital bed, waiting to be transported by an ambulance three hours to a large and prestigious hospital that might be able to offer her something more. With grace and warmth, she talked briefly with each friend who had flooded to her bedside to shed tears and offer kisses. Perhaps she had a drug-induced diminishment of her physical pain, but she was deeply hurting. I could see it in her eyes. As she gave undivided attention to each sad friend, I stared in wonder at her beautiful spirit. She was an image bearer of the One who taught her grace, radiating his gentleness, filled with his kindness.

While engaged with someone in front of her and without moving her eyes in my direction, I saw her left hand slide to the bed and, in a patting gesture, beckon me to come. I rose and quietly made my way to the open space beside her. Oh, how she ministered to my broken heart by simply inviting me to draw near. For the next 20 minutes I sat quietly in this sacred space, praying for my sweet friend as she said goodbye to her inner circle. I’ll never forget how she patted the bed for me to come closer while entirely engaged with the person in front of her. I’ll always remember that stunning scene where the one who had received the death sentence was ministering to others.

Jesus did just that. As a final earthly act, when Jesus was on the cross dying, he tended to his mother by making sure she would be taken care of. To me, it’s one of the most tender moments in all of Scripture:

“When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.” John 19:26-27

Bearing the image and likeness of Jesus and by his enabling, let’s seek to be present with those in front of us and aware of those around us. Like Jesus, let’s tend to others, even amid our sorrow and suffering.