I know what’s impressed on my heart, and I know that I’m going to fall madly in love this year.
I’m going to fall in love with over-populated cities and tiny villages.
I’m going to fall in love with rolling hills, farm fields, forests, streams, and waterfalls.
I’m going to fall in love with people who have been battered and broken. And children who need an example of God’s love.
I’m going to fall in love with individuals who have taken courageous steps to dedicate their lives to serve others.
But Cindy, how do you know you’ll fall in love with people you’ve never even met?
Because love is so much more than a feeling that you fall into. If you solely rely on that feeling, it’s going to fail you. Falling in love is a choice. It’s a choice to make yourself readily available for others. It’s a choice to open up and be vulnerable. It’s a choice to laugh with people. And it’s a choice to cry. It’s a choice to encourage. It’s a choice to listen. It’s a choice to love.
There’s less than a month until my bags have to be packed and ready to go. Almost every other conversation begins with somebody asking me how I’m feeling about it all. Sometimes I feel excited. Sometimes I feel at peace. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed. Sometimes I feel sad. It’s not a dreadful sad. It’s a sad that makes me realize how much I’ve chosen to love. It’s a sad that says, I deeply care about who you are, and I am going to miss your presence. I’m going to miss witnessing the gifts you bring into this world. I’m going to miss watching you grow.
This is going to change you. I’ve also heard that many times. I truly believe that it could…but only if I allow it to. Only if I choose to ask God to see through His eyes and to break my heart for what breaks His. I can easily coast from country to country teaching English, digging wells, playing soccer, hugging children. However, if I don’t go beyond the surface and choose to love, I’m not going to change. It’ll just be a year-long vacation that I did that one time when I was younger. I refuse to let that be the case.
I’m going to fall madly in love this year.
