Like Jesus

Have you ever felt enveloped in love? Sometimes I think it takes a crisis for people to really show what they're made of and how much they care. Yesterday, I was helping out with the Alpha meal at church. I've blogged before about how much I love my church, but yesterday took it to a whole new level. I was coming down stairs and missed the last step. I went flying and twisted both my ankles. I was immediately surrounded by people offering to help, bringing ice, massaging my leg, lifting me up. But, it wasn't just in that first five minutes. The care continued throughout the night. Every person I saw showed concern and offered help. Someone even drove my car home for me. That night, and the next day, so many people messaged me to check on how I was doing.
The most touching, however, was Ursula. I've never met a person before who seems to exude love. And not in a sappy, fake way. She just seems to genuinely care and show such concern. I already knew this from before, but last night just confirmed it. In the middle of my pain, she was there hugging me, telling me she loved me and my company, massaging my ankles, literally and figuratively lifting me up. I felt surrounded by love, like I was enwrapped in soft cotton.
There are only two people I have ever met who remind me of Jesus so much that I think I want to "grow up" to be just like them. One was an older lady from Finland who was so full of grace. She walked with grace, she talked with grace, she just had the most peaceful, grace-filled presence. Being near her actually felt like it brought total peace to my soul, like I imagine what it would be like to be near Jesus.
The other one is Ursula. I can't really describe the love that flows out from her, but it is definitely something special and very unusual. First of all, she gives the best hugs out of anyone I know. She has a total servant's heart and is active in helping out in all kinds of ways. She also has a wicked sense of humour and manages to be funny and loving at the same time. Did I mention that she's also a no-nonsense Mennonite? The love is not coming from a place of sugary, over the top sweetness. It's just there: constant, soft and kind. Like Jesus.