Probably my favorite part about traveling is being impacted
by the people I meet from different countries and cultures. The more I travel, the more I see the beauty
and mystery of God in all of his children. God has made us in his image and has set eternity in our hearts, and I
believe you can catch a glimpse of God in the love people have.
One man from Palenque
really stood out to me as a beautiful picture of God. The man, Miguel, and his
two year old son, Miguelito (little Miguel) are part of the church we have been
working with. His wife left him not too
long ago and now he is left to care for his son on his own. I’m always happy to
see him and his son because he is a man filled with joy. He always has his son in his arms and a smile
on his face. It is evident that he
absolutely adores his little boy, and it is so beautiful to see a man be so
proud of his son. When I told him that his love reminds me of the love of God he told me that it is because he has to have the love of a mother and a father because his wife is no longer around.
During worship he is in the front row with his arm raised
and eyes closed, while in his other arm his son is watching his father and mimicking
everything he does. When his father
raises his hands, the boy raises his hands as well. If the father closes his eyes, the son does
the same. It really is such a touching
thing to watch.
throughout the Bible. In the book of
Hosea, God speaks of Israel
as his child. God said, “When Israel was
a child, I loved him and out of Egypt
I called my son” and he goes on to say, “It was I who taught Ephraim how to
walk, taking them by the arms… I led them with cords of human kindness, with
ties of love…” (11: 2-4).
creation. Psalm 103 says, “For as far as
the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions
from us. As a father has compassion on
his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.”
