Dear brothers and sisters in Christ–
Things are not always what they seem…
Most of the people at the Chicago Children’s Hospital did not know her name. They just knew her as the sweet, elderly lady in the vivid red suit who wanted to make sure that every sick child had a teddy bear to hug and caress.
She kept bringing the stuffed animals, purchased with her own money, to give the sick children. That is why she was simply called “The Teddy Bear Lady.”
Her name was Gladys Holm, a retired secretary for an insurance company, who lived alone in a tiny apartment on a salary of $15,000 per year. She lived modestly and frugally, and loved to save and invest – for the purpose of giving and helping people, especially children.
When she died at age 86, her will simply directed that the bulk of her estate be given to the Children’s Memorial Hospital in the amount of $18 million! No one had the slightest idea that the tall, happy woman delivering teddy bears to ailing children had such wealth.
As they began to piece together more of her life’s story, they discovered something else. They learned that the gifts of teddy bears were really a ruse. She gave away teddy bears to learn more about the financial resources of the families of the children. When she learned that the parents did not have hospitalization or enough to cover medical expenses, she very quietly had taken care of their bills.
Can you visualize that? Can you imagine? The teddy bears were only a ruse. Her real hunger was to find out more about needy people. It was love focused on others. This lady saved most of her income from most of her life to help others.
The same can be said about Jesus and the cross. You can say His death was a ruse. His death was not the end, but it was the beginning. Satan thought he won, thought he was victorious, but it was Christ who was victorious over death, for three days later, Jesus Christ rose. He rose!
At first glance, the reality of the cross was not seen.
The same is true for the “Teddy Bear Lady.” She was not what she seemed.
What is not what it seems in your life?
Do you have a hidden sin you need to overcome?
Do you have a hidden grudge that needs to be forgiven?
Do you, in terms of the 8th commandment, put the best construction on things?
May God lead and guide you as you meditate upon these thoughts, and may His will be done.
Lenten blessing, Pastor Hartwig