Simple gestures can bring powerful comfort.

有时候，简单的举动能带来无比的安慰。

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, . . . who comforts us in all our troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3–4

愿颂赞归与我们的主耶稣基督的父上帝，……我们在一切患难中，祂就安慰我们。-哥林多后书1章3-4节

“Patient is combative,” the nurse’s notes read.

有位护士纪录了这句话：“病人会挣扎反抗。”

What she didn’t realize until later was that I was having an allergic reaction as I awakened after a complicated open-heart surgery. I was a mess, with a tube down my throat. My body began shaking violently, straining against the straps on my arms, which were there to keep me from suddenly pulling out my breathing tube. It was a frightening and painful episode. At one point, a nurse’s assistant to the right side of my bed reached down and simply held my hand. It was an unexpected move, and it struck me as especially gentle. I began to relax, which caused my body to stop shaking so badly.

其实这位护士当时并不知道，我因为刚经过极复杂的心脏手术，醒来之后有过敏反应。我的双手被绑着，预防我抽出呼吸管，我的喉咙插着管子，身体也开始剧烈颤抖，我开始挣扎拉扯绑带。那真是一段可怕又痛苦的经历。那时，一位助理护士来到我病床的右边，俯身轻轻地握住我的手。她这意外的举动，让我倍感温柔亲切，不但让我开始放松，身体也不再剧烈颤抖了。

Having experienced this with other patients, the nurse’s assistant knew that a hand of comfort could minister to me as well. It was a vivid example of how God uses comfort when His children suffer.

这位助理护士从她与其他病人相处的经验中，让她明白安慰的手对我有所帮助。这样的举动，就像是上帝的儿女受苦时，上帝如何安慰祂儿女。

Comfort is a powerful and memorable tool for any caregiver, and Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 it’s an important part of God’s toolbox. Not only that, but God also multiplies the impact of His comfort by calling us to use the memory of the comfort He gives us to comfort others in similar situations (vv. 4–7). It is but another sign of His great love; and one we can share with others—sometimes in the simplest of gestures.

护理者都当知道，在照顾他人时，安慰是有效的工具，还能让对方倍感温馨。而且保罗在哥林多后书1章3-4节告诉我们，安慰是上帝爱的行动中重要的一环。不仅如此，上帝也要我们谨记，我们在患难中经历了祂的安慰，就可以用祂所赐的安慰，与更多遭受同样患难的人分享（4-7节）。安慰是上帝大爱的另一个表征，有时候一个简单的动作，我们就能与人分享从祂而来的安慰。

Thank You, Father, for the comfort You provide to us, either directly or through the acts of Your children. Help us to see where we can apply that same comfort to others in and for Your name.

天父，感谢祢亲自安慰我们，
或透过祢的儿女使我们得安慰。求祢帮助我们，
让人得到同样的安慰，并使祢的名得荣耀。

2 Corinthians 1:3-7New International Version (NIV)

Praise to the God of All Comfort

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

哥林多后书 1:3-7Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

门徒受苦蒙神安慰

3 愿颂赞归于我们的主耶稣基督的父神，就是发慈悲的父，赐各样安慰的神！ 4 我们在一切患难中，他就安慰我们，叫我们能用神所赐的安慰去安慰那遭各样患难的人。 5 我们既多受基督的苦楚，就靠基督多得安慰。 6 我们受患难呢，是为叫你们得安慰、得拯救；我们得安慰呢，也是为叫你们得安慰。这安慰能叫你们忍受我们所受的那样苦楚。 7 我们为你们所存的盼望是确定的，因为知道你们既是同受苦楚，也必同得安慰。

整理：于姊妹