1/22/11
Working in the children’s home is hard. There are so many kids
fighting for attention. Devotion time is frustrating-they don’t listen.
Accidents happen because they are messing around, and then kids overreact and
blow things out of proportion. We can’t discipline them and the house moms
rarely see what goes on because they are constantly cooking, cleaning up after
the kids, bathing them, and doing their laundry. These women have got to be
exhausted. They will be incredible moms someday when they only have a few of
their own to take care of. They are learning the hard way-being put in charge
of many kids coming from all different backgrounds and circumstances. It’s
amazing the kids haven’t already killed each other. I have seen issues of
jealousy, fear, and insecurities playing out through their actions. These kids
need LOVE-and lots of it! I am doing my best to show them love for the short
time I’m here and I pray that I will leave a small impact on their lives. For
some of them, it is hard to receive love because of things in their past. I
hope that through my actions I can redefine what love is. These children are
precious children of God and He wants them to know they are loved.
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is
not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or
resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” [1 Corinthians 13:4-7]
During our team time this month, we have been looking into
what love is and how we can love each other better. In the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan, he challenges
the reader to replace the word “love” in this scripture with their own name.
Are we really being patient and kind with each other and with the kids? Are we
being envious or boastful, arrogant or rude? Are we insisting on our own way,
or letting others choose? Are we irritable or resentful toward one another? Do
we rejoice at wrongdoing or rejoice with the truth? Do we bear, believe, hope,
and endure all things with each other?
[Love is so much more than a word that we say–it’s how we live our lives.]
