We are at Day 6 Post-op, and our brave girl is giving this day a 10 out of 10. Her wounds are healing as they should, and the pain is fading . . . and it may have a lot to do with the power of Love and friendship.

Over the past several days, she has been showered with Love in tangible and intangible ways—prayers, well-wishes, balloons, flowers, favorite candies, hand-drawn artwork, activity kits, and friendship bracelets. And her week has culminated in a play date today with two of her very best guy buds. When they’re together, they radiate a bond and understanding that might be on par with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Our trio had the caveat, though, that there would be no swimming, no running, and no jumping—which, of course, are some of their favorite things. So what could three bright and energetic seven year olds do? Watch a movie, of course, (their choice: Inside Out) and eat a buffet of popcorn and pretzels and sour gummies. But make it deluxe, by building a living room fort in which to watch said movie, too.

After the movie, they did some piddlin’ (southern for “random, relaxed, and enjoyable activities around the home”) of the kid-variety out in the yard. Shrieks of joy and laughter echoed as an unexpected bit of evening breeze blew around them. Pretty perfect, if you ask them . . . and me. I am always in awe of the Love and Life that burst forth when young friends play together. I also noticed how well, healthy, and whole she looked.

Tonight, I’m reflecting on something stored deep in the back of my brain from when I took pastoral counseling at seminary many years ago…. I remember that patients heal X% faster when they feel cared for. Obviously. But it’s something that we may not always consider or practice intentionally. Pain medicine is helpful—but so are the phone calls and visits and flowers, along with an ongoing (important!) sense of care and community. So then, perhaps some of the pain relief occurs when we feel we are loved and part of something meaningful. We become healed, bit by bit, by Love.

To say that “this world is a mess” would be a terrible cliche. There is a brokenness that aches for healing. There are too many things to mention happening now that range from close-to-home to world-wide, from mildly irritating to inhumanely horrific. I feel overwhelmed with how to respond to them all. But I do see Love stubbornly pushing through like little green sprouts here and there in defiance of the evil and the muck. Those signs of Love give my heart some hope, because they have a power that the darkness can neither defeat nor understand. Love is patient and love is kind, but it is also relentless . . . determined . . . undefeatable. Foolishly optimistic, yet grittily realistic. Love is the medicine we all need.

And so we begin this new week of our girl’s healing process, holding on to the power of Love. Because I can see that Love is healing her . . . And me . . . And, may it be, I pray, this big, broken world.