“Thank you so much for inviting us.” One of the sweet residents from the group home I worked at said this to me at my going away party and it really tugged at my heart. She is a lady who, if she really wants to tell you something, will hold you by the hand and look you in the eye to make sure you really hear what she is saying. And I did.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot the past couple of days. In the business of packing, running errands around town, and trying to process the sadness of goodbyes and excitement of what’s next, I keep thinking about this moment. Not just because it was kind and made me emotional, but because it reminded me so much of my “why.”
To invite people from all nations, all abilities, and all backgrounds to hear the Gospel and to experience the fullness of life with Jesus. This resident probably didn’t intend to remind my heart of this when she said that, but she did. Not only do I believe that is our calling as believers to invite people into life with Jesus through sharing the Gospel and loving them well, but I believe that it is His desire for all people to know and love Him.
The resident who said this to me is a strong and courageous woman in her 60s, diagnosed with an intellectual disability, and has been living in the same group home for about 30 years. She has a job, loves her friends and family, and takes care of those around her. She is a picture to me of what a difference it can make to invite someone, which makes me think of what it could mean to invite others. To invite them to a party for a couple hours, to invite them to church on a Sunday morning, to invite them live in a home with needed love and support, or to invite them to hear that they were created by a God who loves them so much that He sent His one and only Son down to Earth to be crucified and three days later rise again, defeating sin and death. May we all know we are invited into abundant life with Jesus and may we all know someone else to invite to hear the Gospel and live this abundant life, too.