by Jackie Herren & Susan Feaga (Tender Care)

 

While sitting at an employee banquet for my husband’s work, this young, attractive woman came up excited to speak with me. I hardly recognized my former client from Tender Care. It was over two years prior that she had come to the pregnancy center for help with material assistance for her new baby. She was a “regular” customer and she was always treated with dignity and respect. As is often the case, those clients who come in for help more frequently are the ones with whom we are more likely to establish a relationship.

 

During one of her visits to the center, she confided in me that she was going to rehab. I shared with her some of my own struggles and she thanked me for not judging her. I assured her that judgement was not on our agenda, only praying the best for herself and her little girl.

 

These two years have brought sobriety, hope, and confidence to my young friend. She was anxious to show me current phone pictures of her thriving two-year-old and her family. She thanked me for our kindness at Tender Care and for accepting her as she was. I am reminded that Jesus loves you and me right where we are—in our trespasses and sins and in our hopeless state. He was willing to go to the cross for all of lost humanity. I didn’t need to go to a personal rehab to get clean first. I confessed my sins and the perfect blood of Jesus cleansed me and made me a new creation. The former things have passed away and all things have become new. He placed His Spirit in me and causes me to walk in His ways. Those ways include showing His love, free of judgement and condemnation, to every person He places in our path.

 

“Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.” (John 8:10-11)

 

Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. (Matthew 25:40)

 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

 

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. (Ezekiel 36:26-27)