Just Show Up

There are those devastating times when we receive hard news. Processing and dealing with the emotions that come with bad news takes strength that comes from God alone. However, there are circumstances where time is limited, and sometimes, by God’s grace, we need to simply, “just show up.”

I recently watched the story of Kara Tippetts. It’s called The Long Goodbye. It’s a story of a young pastor’s wife, a mother of four sweet kids, dealing with the devastating reality of stage IV cancer. It is a beautifully portrayed picture of a woman moving from fear and control toward peace and grace. She continually points towards the God of compassion who is with us in our suffering, shaping pain into beauty.

Interestingly, shortly after watching this documentary, I came across a couple of Kara’s books on a clearance table. While these books might have been on sale, they were a found treasure. I have friends going through hard times right now, and Tara’s books have been helpful. Her first book is entitled The Hardest Peace, expecting grace in the midst of life’s hard. Her second book, Just Show Up, offers practical advice on how to be there for others. Kara’s writings explore the gift of silence, the art of receiving, and what it means to “just show up.” She explores the gift of friendship, especially during difficult circumstances and how we can be present for the practical everyday tasks. She gives examples of what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Kara’s story is one of seeing God in all circumstances and relationships, whether short-term or long. It shows us how God is with us through the gift of authentic friendships.

The writings of A.A. Milne speak into the important message of just showing up much better than I ever could. Let the following words have an impact on your soul as they did on mine. It’s amazing the methods God uses to speak to our hearts. God often uses the simple things, in this case, a child’s story, to portray a deep and valuable message:

“It occurred to Pooh and Piglet that they hadn't heard from Eeyore for several days, so they put on their hats and coats and trotted across the Hundred Acre Wood to Eeyore's stick house. Inside the house was Eeyore.

"Hello Eeyore," said Pooh. "Hello, Pooh. Hello Piglet," said Eeyore, in a glum sounding voice.

"We just thought we'd check in on you," said Piglet, "because we hadn't heard from you, and so we wanted to know if you were okay."

Eeyore was silent for a moment. "Am I okay?" he asked, eventually. "Well, I don't know, to be honest. Are any of us really okay? That's what I ask myself. All I can tell you, Pooh and Piglet, is that right now I feel really rather sad, and alone, and not much fun to be around at all. Which is why I haven't bothered you. Because you wouldn't want to waste your time hanging out with someone who is sad, and alone, and not much fun to be around at all, would you now."

Pooh looked at Piglet, and Piglet looked at Pooh, and they both sat down, one on either side of Eeyore in his stick house.

Eeyore looked at them in surprise. "What are you doing?"

"We're sitting here with you," said Pooh, "because we are your friends. And true friends don't care if someone is feeling sad, or alone, or not much fun to be around at all. True friends are there for you anyway. And so here we are."

"Oh," said Eeyore. "Oh."

And the three of them sat there in silence, and while Pooh and Piglet said nothing at all; somehow, almost imperceptibly, Eeyore started to feel a very tiny little bit better.

Because Pooh and Piglet were there.

No more; no less.”

“Then they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great” (Job 2:13).

By God’s grace, let’s “just show up!”

Susan Page is the daughter of the King, His beloved child, wonderfully forgiven and blessed! Susan longs to age gracefully, becoming more like Jesus as she seeks the hidden treasures revealed to her through Scripture, literature, the arts, humankind, and nature.