A Simple Gift
A Simple Gift
When Bonnie Raitt won the Grammy earlier this week for song of the year, no one looked more surprised than her. She is a 73 year old rock and blues gal up against much younger music icons like Adele, Beyonce, and Kendrick Lamar. Honestly, when I saw the list of nominees, I didn’t think she had a chance. Much to my surprise and to her’s, she won. I was excited for her. I have always been a low-key Bonnie Raitt fan, and my wife an even bigger fan. Its always fun to see good things happen to people you like, and she remains just so likable. Her speech was exactly what you would expect: humble and insightful and just so gracious.
And then I listened to the song.
I was not fully prepared for what it would feel like to listen to her tell this story. The song is about the meeting between a young man and a mother who had lost her son. The young man sought out the woman because years earlier he had received the heart for a transplant from the son she had lost. The story is simply told, and profound in its impact. The song catches the grief of a mother struggling with unimaginable loss, the gratitude of someone who received the generosity of that donation, and the deep healing that comes in their meeting. Mostly the song is about grace; about the kind of grace that shows up like a warm and beautiful light in the darkest of places.
About fifteen years ago, my eye doctor informed me that I would go blind unless extreme measures were taken. Over the next two years I received corneal transplants in both eyes. As time got closer for each surgery I began to feel a deep sense of dread, knowing that someone was going to die, and I was going to receive the gift of their organ donation in the midst of their family’s deep sadness. It was overwhelming.
I spend my time thinking and speaking about how Christians can make a difference in the real world. I’m sure that I, like many others, have made it more complicated that it should be. Remember, Jesus once said, “…if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward. (Matthew 10:42).” Can it be that simple? I mentioned in a sermon recently that Mother Teresa once said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” Sometimes a simple gift with great love can make a profound impact. I think one of the most simple things a Christian can do with great love is the gift of organ donation. I know it had an impact on me.
Both corneas I received were closed donations, which means I never got the chance to have the kind of reunion mentioned in this song. But, I hope those families hear Bonnie Raitt’s song. I hope they feel the healing and grace that comes from the Maker in our most difficult times. And I hope they know how grateful I am.
George Welty