"Love In An Elevator"

From the title, any of you who are Aerosmith fans are thinking, "Uh oh" where is Jeremy going with this post???  Well let me put your anxieties to rest.  Today our family went up to visit Julie at the hospital in the afternoon.  After leaving Julie we were on the 5th floor waiting for the down elevator.  When the door opened, for us, there was an African American woman and her darling daughter who was probably 2 or 3 years old standing there.  The little girl was dressed beautifully in a blue and white dress.  As soon as we began to walk in, Selah noticing this little girl walked right up to her and gave her the sweetest hug and kiss and then smiled at her.  I was a little taken back by the public display of affection, but this is not abnormal behavior for our children.  Those of you who know them, know that the Zilkie children don't know too many strangers.  I said "Hello" to the mother, we asked the girls name (it was Chloe) and then I said to Selah, "Selah, did you find a new friend?"  Selah shook her head up and down and kept looking at and smiling at Chloe as the elevator proceeded down to the lobby.

As we parted ways we smiled and said good bye to the Chloe and her mother.  Doug however, stopped and noted that what he saw Selah do was one of the most dear things he had seen in some time and was the highlight of his day.  In our "post-racial" world, we don't quickly know what each individual person really thinks anymore about race or what people of color have experienced in the way of prejudice and racism and how they feel about their obstacles therein.  Honestly, I didn't think much about it when it happened.  Doug however, noted how beautiful it was that Selah did not think a moment about color or differences when she saw Chloe, only that she beheld beauty and the beauty she saw in Chloe was worthy of her affection and adoration.

Today the innocence and power of love was on display in an elevator between the 5th floor and the lobby and our little three year old Selah was leading us all in how to do it.  Today, where will God be revealing "beauty" to you in your run of the mill day?  How does God want you and I to respond to the beauty we see?  Should we take a moment and affirm it in the person or people whom God brings across our path.  How can we love them for who they are as God's creation?  Thank you God for the blessing and grace placed in the hearts of even a three year old.

Also, Julie continues to do well and had a great chance to share Christ clearly with one of her nurses.  In fact, she felt like her whole time in the hospital thus far may have been for her opportunity today.  We pray for the nurse and that her search for Truth and purpose in this life would lead her to her Savior, who loves her and died for her, and wants to give her life everlasting.