The Power of One Cuddle
Trevor, our Chair of Trustees, shares a touching family story of interdependence.
In the Apostle Paul’ s description of the Church as a body with many parts( 1 Corinthians 12) he affirms:‘ God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be’( verse 18).
Those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, those of us who have chosen His invitation to be children of God, are an essential part of the body. God has chosen us; God has arranged us: placed us in His body just where He wants us, to serve Him.‘ Every one of us’ scripture tells us, no exceptions; we are all vital to the health of the body, all vital in God’ s Kingdom. You are essential; the body, the Church, is diminished, is less, without you.
It reminds me of many years ago, when my eldest daughter Elin was a baby. She has had profound disabilities from birth( quadriplegic cerebral palsy, is non-verbal, and unable to walk). Elin was totally vulnerable and helpless; a disabled new-born being cuddled by her grandfather who was dying of cancer. Both were receiving what they needed at that time: interdependent, mutual giving and receiving. Two seemingly weaker members of the body, proving indispensable to one another.
We are all vital to the health of the Church.
Elin and her grandfather were parts of the‘ body’ often deemed to be less important, that we might rather hide away or forget. Yet they were serving one another, quietly fulfilling the call of Christ. In fact, I heard afterwards that a priest who visited Elin’ s grandfather and observed this was inspired to preach to his congregation about what he saw. And now I share this same story with you, and it still impacts me in a profound way just remembering it.
There is a parable in the Bible about different servants with talents in Matthew 25. A man gave one person 5 talents, another person 2 talents, and yet another person 1 talent. The servants with 5 and 2 talents put them to work and doubled their investments. The one with 1 talent hid it in the ground, out of fear, and obviously gained nothing. So, do not fear, take heart: use your talent; we all have at least one, and it is valuable and indispensable to the body, the Church. And when you do use what God has given you, be encouraged, for one talent becomes two, and two becomes four, and so on – this is how God’ s Kingdom works.
One cuddle between a disabled baby and a terminally ill man has had a profound impact on many. Who knows where your talent will lead?
Like this, new-born, disabled baby Elin and her grandfather with cancer comforted each other.
Vital Link Summer 2026 | www. throughtheroof. org