I have been spit on, drooled
on, coughed on, sneezed on, snotted on, thrown-up on, and had food projected onto
my face at a speed far too fast to dodge, thanks to the coughing and sneezing
accompanied with eating, furthermore I have changed more diapers (nappies) in
the past 2 days than in the past 7 years, which really isn’t saying much. But, despite
all of these wonderful fluids coming my way, I have also had something else
dripped onto me; I have been loved on. 1 Peter 4:8 says that love covers a
multitude of sins, and I have learned that not only does love cover a multitude
of sins, it covers a multitude of bodily functions as well!
The past two days I have been
helping out in what is called the Asiphe (uh-see-pee) House with Agape
Orphanage in Grabouw, South Africa. The Asiphe House is the house for the
disabled kiddos within the Agape orphanage community. The disabilities range
from cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, brain damage, and one special little guy
with Down syndrome. Most of the kids cannot feed themselves, and none of them
can use the bathroom by themselves. There are 14 kids all together ranging from
18 months to 19 years old, each one unique, with her or his own personality.
Knowing that I was coming up
the orphanage and more than likely helping out at the Asiphe House, I wasn’t
too sure what to expect. I don’t have much, which is somewhat of an
understatement, experience with disabled children or children in general. More
than my lack of experience with kids “abled” and “disabled”, I was afraid the
feelings of anger and confusion that were brought on while helping out at a
hospital for severe autism in Guatemala would resurface, hindering my ability
to help out without hang-ups and a smile on my face. But, alas God knows our
needs.
I was listening to a Francis
Chan Pod-cast while doing some cardio (as missions work seems to be quite
detrimental to the waist line a whole nother blog all together) and in his sermon
he said something that blew my mind. He used the analogy of a rope and some red
tape, however I’m gonna use my own.
Picture if you will (I’d ask
you to close your eyes but then you wouldn’t know what to picture however feel
free to after you know, just re-open them to continue reading) newly bought
fishing line and a tiny little knot tied in the very front/beginning of the
line. Now fishing line that you buy goes a few hundred yards, I think, but
imagine that this line never ends, ever! That tiny little knot represents your
life here on earth, and the rest of the line represents the rest of your life
after earth. What you do in the time span of that wee little knot determines
how you will spend the rest of your line/life, lifeline if you will.
Crazy, strange, scary, fair,
mind blowing? You decide for yourself, the bottom line is it’s true; John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that who so ever
believes in him will not perish but have EVERLASTING life.
Our time on earth is just that time; time has limits and
eventually runs out, everlasting is just that; ever-lasting, lasting forever,
never ending, no time, no limits just keeps on keepin’ on n on n on n on n on n
you get the picture.
Ok now to my point! Finally,
right? As I started working with the precious kids I was reminded of what I had
heard Francis say in the Pod-cast. I thought, “You know what, these kids may be
“disabled” here on earth, but they have an eternity to be perfect with Jesus.”
This is just a little knot in their line where they are in need of special care
and help, but after this is nothing but sheer perfection and bliss in Heaven.
Now yes I’m basing my logic on the fact that all disabled children and adults
alike go to Heaven. Is it Biblical? I have no idea. But, I believe that God
made them special and knowing they wouldn’t or might not have the mind to grasp
God and Jesus the son who’s God in the flesh and heaven and hell and grace and
forgiveness, then again do any of us really, so God kinda gives them a special
ticket, which they deserve if you ask me. Plus I think they talk to God and He
to them all day, again that’s just Megan if you wanna argue go right ahead, but
know that I have no back up cept my own thoughts n ideas….. kinda like you.
These children are an example
of love, a reminder to be thankful for the simple fact that I can chew or pick
my own nose, a testimony of gratitude, sometimes a test all together, but none
the less love. A knot of love, I believe they will spend their knot being loved
on and loving on others, along with a few bodily fluids in the mix. What about
your knot?
Please stay tuned for further
blogs bout these kiddos and love! I’d keep going but this one blog long enough.
Thanks for reading hope you enjoyed!
1Corinthians 13:1 If I speak
in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding
gong or a clanging cymbal.
