Devotion

Check-In ‘Deep’
1 Corinthians 12:26 (NLT) If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

Last month’s tragic news of the suicide deaths of Ian Alexander, Jr. - the only son of actress and director Regina King, and Chelsie Kryst, the former Miss USA 2019, lawyer, and television personality - are abrupt reminders that we cannot take for granted the superficial appearances of the people in our life. Right now, we have people in our circles of relationships, employment, and community who are hurting. We have people all around us – smack dab in our faces everyday – who are having a rough time in life. The masks they wear are like blinders that prevent us from seeing their signals that scream out for help – our help. The hurried interactions and communications we have with each other create a fertile gap of isolation for those who need us to intercede and be their strength while they are weak. We have too much to lose when we don’t check-in ‘deep’ on the well-being of each other. Check-in ‘deep’ means giving intentional and quality time that is abundant with our ‘presence’ to embrace the mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical aspects of each other’s wellness. So,“Hey, are we alright? Come on, let’s go somewhere and talk, cry, or scream if we must. We’re due to take inventory of what’s going on with each other. Your struggles are mine, and my struggles are yours. But with Jesus - we can get through this them together. We are here for each other by the grace of God, and God will see us through.” Amen.