So far, my time in Bulgaria has been wonderful, eye opening and challenging, and this week has been no different. One of our days this week, we had the opportunity to go to an orphanage made for children with disabilities. This was meant to be an information session, so we could come back and help out there another time in the couple of weeks we have remaining in Bulgaria, I don’t think any of us were prepared for the shock value that it had.
When we walked in everything was at peace. We sat down, had soda and cookies and introductions, and then the kids woke up from their naps. The children started to run around and play, and it was easy to tell they had mental disabilities. They didn’t seem to have any regard for the instructions of the staff, they ate more cookies than they were supposed to, and they got very up close and personal with us.
I was thankful that God gave a sense of peace to our team, because it was a situation that we weren’t prepared for, and all of us were able to talk about how this was one of the most real and confronting experiences both of the race, and our lives. Reflecting on it though, one thing really captured me while I was there, and it was the way the director of this orphanage looked at, and introduced these orphans.
As each child came racing by, she grabbed them, hugged them, kept them still and had them say hello to us. After this, she proceeded to tell us about the ticks these kids have, and their disabilities, but the way she explained them was what really struck me, she didn’t sound annoyed, or aggravated, but there was this unmistakeable delight in her voice. When she turned to look at the children she was beaming, as though they were the most precious thing to her.
Sitting alone later contemplating all I had taken in during the day, God really pressed on my heart that this is the way He views us. He is aware of the places we fall short, and the ways in which we might not measure up. He knows the patterns of our flesh, and our inability to walk upright, but his awareness to these things doesn’t stop him from delighting in us. He loves us for who we are, in the same way the orphanage director loved these children for who they were.
My invitation for everyone this week is to sit in the delight of your Heavenly Father. He made you perfectly, and he made you for Himself. He knows every cell in your body, he knows every thought in your mind. He loves despite every act of rebellion against Him, and your inability to follow his commands. This week I want to invite my followers to just sit and accept His love and His delight, it doesn’t matter how short you feel like you’ve come up this week, love comes from the giver, not the receiver. And the giver of this love would rather die than live without you. Let’s enjoy His delight in us this week. You are so precious to Him.
I love you guys,
Andy
