My heart is so overwhelmed. I have already seen the best and the worst of humanity. I've seen complete brokenness, idol worship, and poverty like I never could of imagined. But, I've also seen love. Love that is so unconditional, love that blows me away. It's strong, without expecting anything in return. Meet Victor and Melba Guzman. More then 35 years ago this young married couple rushed to the hospital, their child was sick and needed help. Sadly, with the social medical care that Costa Rica uses, the family is responsible for taking care of the sick in the hospital. There are very few nurses and many patients don't receive the attention and care they need. While taking care of their own child, Melba noticed another small child in a room alone. No mother or father, no nurse, this child was dying and completely alone. In that moment Melba decided to love. She cared for both children, trying to keep them alive. However, within the next few weeks they both ended up passing away. I can't imagine the heartbreak and sadness that would of overcome her. She could of easily been consumed in her sadness, fallen into a depression, been angry at God. But she had chosen to love. She prayed that night and asked God "if any child ever needed a home, for any reason, to send them to her and she would never turn them away." Soon after, a child was left by the families front door and they welcomed the new born with open arms. Within the same year another child was dropped off and then another and then ANOTHER! For the last 35 years this family has taken in 93 kids. Right now the family houses 39 kids, aging anywhere from a newborn to 27 years old. The kids become their own, they not up for adoption, they become apart of their family. They are allowed to live in the house until they are married. Some of the kids show up in horrible conditions, starved, beaten, many have mental disorders but every single one is loved unconditionally as if they truly are their biological children.
While there, I met a little girl named Anita. She caught my eye the moment she smiled, it lights up the entire room. I found out that she was brought to the house after she was severely abused by her father. Both of her legs were broken, she was unable to speak because of the severe trauma to her head, and her entire body was covered in burn marks. Melba and Victor eventually were able to send her to the United States and she was able to have her broken bones reset. Although she is still needing a second surgery to correct some final issues, this little girl can now run and jump with the other children. And i'm not kidding she is amazing. Beautiful from the inside out and pours love out to anyone she meets. God is doing incredible things with this family and i will be forever changed because i have gotten to know them. Throughout all of Anita's pain, and horrific memories this little girl chooses to love. Melba and Victor choose to love. They rely on God with everything they have, not wanting any praise in return. We can all learn something from this incredible family. To walk in hope, to be unselfish, to choose love every single day. This year I'm choosing love, are you?
Even after all this time, the sun never says to the earth, "you owe me".
Look what happens with a love like that,
It lights up the whole sky. -Hafiz
It lights up the whole sky. -Hafiz
