Beloved 8

Dreamland, the overnight destination of sweet dreams and quirky adventures, is drifting away. A siren calls out to you. It sounds off again…louder…louDER…LOUDER…SNAP! Your mind stirs to attention. Your eyes open just enough to focus on the enemy sitting on your night stand. Your finger swipes it into silence. Your body sinks back into harmony with the bed. Ahhhh!

A glimpse at the closed curtains reveals a hint of sunlight. The light of day is on its way. A full day of activities is lined up for you. What is your first thought?

Ok, going back to sleep is not an option. Try again. What is your second thought?

Do you ever wake up, a thought pops into your mind, and then the thought consumes your mind? Maybe it’s a thought of something you must do that day: a test at school, speaking assignment, team project, family obligation, or a big game. Maybe it’s a thought about a troubled relationship:  a fight with a sibling, a misunderstanding with a friend, or the lonely reality of a peer withholding conversation and friendship from you. Perhaps you remember that Instagram photo that made you feel every definition of insecure.

A day holds…
countless obligations to fulfill…
goals to achieve…
expectations to meet…
and problems to solve.

Anyone else feeling exhausted?

I don’t know about you, but this is when I start praying for a snow day! Seriously, how can our human minds and hearts handle all the pressure to “do” so many things and to “be” so many things to so many people?

My niece, Hannah, wrestled with this question and discovered an answer. Let me tell you about my incredible niece. As you can see from the picture, Hannah was beautiful—strikingly beautiful. With such beauty, you might think Hannah didn’t have any troubles or worries, but she had her fair share…as we all do. Her friends and family described her as sweet, always smiling, funny, sometimes silly, constant laugher, gracious, giving, creative, intelligent, encouraging, determined, lover of life, Christ-follower, and light in the darkness. Her beauty radiated from the inside out.

I received this text from my sister-in-law on the morning of Sunday, December 17, 2017: “Hannah has been in a terrible car accident. Please pray!!! Doctors are working on her now. I will let you know when I hear something.” Hannah was only 22 years old. In shock, I prayed.

An hour later, I made it to church and to the seat my husband, Steve, had saved for me. Another text came: “They (Hannah’s parents and siblings) are booking flights now. The hospital told them they need to get there as soon as possible.” Steve and I looked at each other, speechless. Our hearts grew heavy.

Hannah was fighting for her life, and I was fighting back the tears as I stood to sing the first worship song. It was a Christmas carol—a joyful, upbeat Christmas carol. In that moment, it felt like the WORST song choice EVER.

Oh Come, All Ye Faithful
By John Francis Wade
O come, all ye faithful,  
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;

Trying my best to focus on the words, I soon stumbled into hope.

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be all glory given!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!

God sent Jesus to us.
This is the hope we have. This is the hope Hannah has.

O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

That afternoon, my husband and I received an update: Hannah’s immediate family was at the airport. A nurse had called Hannah’s mom to say Hannah was still unconscious, and there was nothing more the doctors could do. The nurse offered to hold the phone up to Hannah’s ear so that each family member could say good-bye.

Heart-breaking.

The next 24 hours proved even more heart-breaking as family members, all on the East Coast, encountered trouble catching flights to California to be with Hannah. An unusual power outage at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport delayed most of the family by more than 16 hours. When the family finally made it to Hannah’s side, they were told she had passed.

Hannah didn’t have a chance to say final words to loved ones and friends. Doctors believe she died on impact of hitting a tree, which meant she didn’t hear her loved ones’ last words to her. Did Hannah know she was loved?

In the days that followed Hannah’s mom, Heather, read through her daughter’s recent Instagram and Facebook posts. Hannah quoted Christian songs and theologians, and pictures of family and friends filled her posts. Her mom located Hannah’s Instagram post about the word “Beloved,” which she had tattooed on her right arm.

Hannah posted: “Beloved has several different meanings but one of my favorites is from the Bible when Jesus calls us his ‘beloved’. The same God who paints the universe and picked out every detail of my being has chosen to love us. And our role is to BE-LOVED.”

1 John 3:1-2 says, “See what kind of love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

The kind of love God has for us is unconditional. It’s a love He gave us. Our sinful nature renders it impossible for us to earn God’s love. The God of the universe could have forgotten us, but He chose to love us and sent His Beloved Son—“Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing”—to die for our sins. God calls Jesus His Beloved Son several times in the Bible (Matthew 3:17, 17:5, Mark 1:11, 9:7).

“Beloved” means greatly loved, dear to the heart, treasured, worthy of love. Through Jesus’ work on the cross, our sins are forgiven, and our relationship with our Heavenly Father is restored. Because of Jesus’ love poured out for us, we are God’s Beloved children.

Since her death, Hannah’s message that we are His “Beloved” has been shared over and over again on social media, at her Celebration of Life service, and in conversations. Inspired by how she lived her life for Jesus and loved others, friends and family have found unique ways to carry on her message and memory, including a “Beloved” Bible study written by a Young Life leader Hannah had when she was in high school.    

My niece, Hannah, didn’t have last words that were spoken. Hannah’s last words were written on her body, and most importantly, shared through her life. She embraced her identity as God’s Beloved child, and then loved people as Jesus loves. In addition to the word “Beloved,” Hannah had a favorite Bible verse tattooed on her back: “She is clothed with strength and dignity; and she laughs without fear of the future” (Proverbs 31:25). She could face each day with confidence and joy because she was His Beloved child. Hannah knew she was loved. Now, she is with God and knows fully what it means to BE-LOVED!

How do we wake up each day, remembering we are His Beloved? When you wake up with a pressing thought or anxious feeling, don’t wrestle with it right away. Instead, aim for Him by simply getting up and BEing-LOVED. Tell yourself, “Get up and BE-LOVED…Get up and BE-LOVED,” and keep saying that until you’re up.

I encourage you to spend time first thing each morning reading God’s Word for it is powerful. Reading it will surround you with love, set your mind on His truth, and strengthen your heart for the day ahead. When your mind is racing, reading from a Bible promise book, which has scripture organized by life topics, can steady your mind. I also like prayer books, which have scripture and written prayers.

You’ll never regret spending a longer time with God, reading the Bible, praying, listening to worship songs, etc. Many scriptures encourage us to rise in the morning to be with Him. Maybe you share my struggle: I’m not a morning person. What about you? Have you tried to read a chapter in the Bible in the early morning, and you have no idea what you just read? So you re-read the passage…several times…and still can’t retain it? Try reading from a Bible promise book or prayer book, and later in the day when you have had a chance to wake up and exercise your brain, enjoy a longer time with God.

The most freeing advice came from a chaplain at my work. He said those who are “morning people” may experience better quiet times, or God times, in the morning, while those who are “night owls” may experience richer quiet times in the evening. He encouraged us to focus on the quality of time we spend with God. It’s critical to our souls that we rest in His presence daily and allow Him to remind us of who we are—His Beloved children.

BE-LOVED, today and always!

In loving memory of Hannah Christine Butsch…until we meet again. What an honor it is to carry on her legacy through my first blog post! 

Butsch, Hannah. {@hannahbutsch}. (2015, January 3). [Photo of Beloved Tattoo and written post]. Retrieved from http:www.instagram.com/p/xaKT_EBW5K/