Reflection: Remembering Bella...

Taking a child, He placed it in their midst, and putting His arms around it, He said to them, "whoever receives one child such as this, in My Name, receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but the One who sent Me." Mark 9:36-37

This reflection was posted one year ago. It is being re-posted today in memory of beautiful little Bella...

A tragic story unfolded this week. Months ago, the body of a little child was found in a trash bag washed ashore on Deer Island in Boston. The child was named Baby Doe. This week, her identity was discovered. Her name is Bella, which means beautiful in Italian. She was just shy of three years old. The circumstances of her death are tragic. It is likely that she suffered much in her short life. She is surely resting now in the arms of Jesus.

A great sadness comes in knowing about the loss of this beautiful child. How is it possible? Didn't people miss her? Why didn't they come forward? The answers may never be known.

What lessons can be carried forward in our own lives from this tragic story? Let us ask the Lord to reveal to us if there are times that we have been silent when we should have spoken. As we pray about this, He will help us listen to His promptings so that we will know when He wants us to do something. He will give us courage to speak the truth, in love.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

Following God's Will first means listening to Him in prayer. When we make time every day to listen in silence to the Lord, He will speak.

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Romans 8:16

On this day, as we ponder beautiful little Bella, know that you are a beautiful child of God. Ask Jesus what He wants to say to you: Jesus, what do You want to say to me?