Even THAT toe…matters

So on your foot, if you google it, there are names for three toes. The Big Toe, the Middle Toe and the Little toe. Go ahead. Try googling it for yourself. I would if I were you. I’ll wait for you right here…

The reason I know this is because I wanted to share with you that I have something to say about what is known as the “fourth toe”. On my right foot.

A toe so insignificant that it doesn’t even have a name. Just a number.

And a bandaid.

Because last Monday I had a suspicious looking freckle removed from the side of it.

And when I say removed, I mean there is a cavernous, ominous, creepy divot in the side of this poor, unnamed toe.

Okay I may be exaggerating a little, but there is definitely a chunk of tissue missing and it hurts.

And it has caused me to be the biggest baby….asking to be dropped off at the door when it is raining, and whining about how hard it is to put medicine and a bandaid on it between the two toes that are so haughty because they have real names.

Every step makes me remember I have a wound and I can feel exactly where the pain point is. Resting it pulsates with a gentle throbbing reminder something is amiss.

So this unassuming “fourth toe”, that has gone unnoticed for my whole life, now has made my whole body aware that it is hurting.

Evidence points to the fact that even though I never bothered to find out it’s name, it has been quietly contributing to maintaining me while standing and moving. Who knew.

In the body of Christ…are many members.

In fact…the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are the parts we can’t do without…”       1 Corinthians 12:22

God, through the apostle Paul, shows us that the Church is a Body in the same way our body is put together. Many parts…all doing different things….some more showy and public…some private…some treated well and with honor (ahem…facials…hair…muscle toning)….some not so much (fourth toes).

He also says that we each work together, doing our part for the good of the whole. We are not at odds against each other.

So simple to see in our own human body how there can be no competition or solo endeavors by our hand or our eyes, but all work in unison to accomplish our daily tasks.

And then there is the mention of my fourth toe and why I am even writing this….

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part shares in its joy. YOU ARE the Body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it.  1 Corinthians 12:26-27

For a week now, because that insignificant nameless toe has been weakened and hurting and healing…the rest of us here in Laura-ville have been tuned in and aware.

When it is feeling better, the whole body will rejoice as we trade in these flip-flops for real shoes.

Look around at the Body of Christ right now….we have some real hurting going on out there.

Suffer with your brothers and sisters.

We also have some good things going on with some the family of God.

Rejoice with them.

And know, dear one, that even if you feel like a fourth toe or a fifth wheel or whatever else…YOU ARE A PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST AND YOU MATTER MUCH TO HIM and to US!!!!