Written 06/08/2010
If I thought that we were popular in Cambodia and Thailand, then I was completely unprepared for the level of popularity we would achieve here in Kenya.
In Cambodia, we had the “Hello Chorus” – kids living in the neighborhoods along the highway we walked along on our way to the Solar Cafe most days who came running out of their houses yelling “Hello” as we walked past.
In Thailand, it was the hundred of kids in each school we taught English at who would come up to us with pens and paper asking for our names and email addresses.
Here in Kenya, it’s all about the mobs, and all about the photographs.
Gotta be in the picture!
“Excuse me, can you take a photograph?”
-Ruth
Just think about how it makes you feel when someone you’ve barely met remembers who you are.
No, not only barely met, but someone you didn’t think you made any kind of impression on when you were dying to be remembered.
Yeah, I think that joy comes close.
One of the things I believe I am most thankful for is that even though the vast majority of people I meet in the world are never going to remember who I am, God will.
I don’t have to be concerned about whether or not He knows my name.
He made me.
He hasn’t forgotten me in all the billions of people who ever have or ever will live.
More than that, He DELIGHTS in me.
He picks me up on His shoulders and shows me off because He is bursting with pride.
See, Gabriel – this is my daughter. This is my Cat. Look at her. LOOK at her. Isn’t she amazing?
Even better is that I’m not the only one God is like that with.
He doesn’t just know who you are… He has a relationship with you.
He loves you immeasurably, and is so proud of you that He picks you up on His shoulders and parades you around – exactly like a daddy who can’t get enough of showing off his kid.
On the days when I am struggling the most to believe God loves me like that, I have exactly that mental image to fall back on.
I have been fearfully and wonderfully made, as it were.
There was no mistake made in my design.
I am exactly as I was meant to be.
The God who made me takes great delight in even the most minute detail.
And, really – who else do you need to know you?
