This is my first Christmas to spend away from my family. Just in case you are doing the math- I am 31 years old. That’s a lot of Christmas’s to be home. This Christmas I spent it in another home, with other family members across the globe. Instead of wrapped presents, I spent this Christmas practicing the art of being present with the Malaysian family God ordained our lives to entangle.
I have never felt so much love before. I came to Malaysia to love others as Christ loved. Instead I find that they are fully invested in loving me well.
We started our Christmas season going house to house singing Christmas carols (Check out my ‘POP LOCK & DROP’ blog or ‘THE MALAYSIAN CHRISTMAS CAROL VIDEO’ blog) and through that our relationships started to spark. We met so many people who shared their homes and their lives with no reserve. We built relationships with people who opened their homes and gave what they had to us. We met people who shared their stories their triumphs, their hurts and pains, past shames and glories.
I wish you and I could sit over some coffee and I could share with you their lives but until then I will share these pictures and remind you…
David AKA “BABY” gave us each nick names. Introducing from Left to right: INDIA, Petrus Sparkles, Tom Cruises sister & Titanic.
I want to remind you today to be present.
I want to remind you to love and love well.
I want to remind you that God has placed people in your life for a reason.
Invest in that reason.
Entangle yourself in the God ordained relationships that God has placed around you.
Encourage and speak truth into their lives.
Listen to their stories and let your story speak to them.
My prayer for you today is that you will love and love well. That you will be present with the people God has placed in your life. You may be close or across the globe but you play an important role in what God wants to do through you in the lives of others.
Thanks for reading my random thoughts today.
Sending love from Malaysia,
<3
Ash
#teamash
