“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30
When we arrived here in Lesotho, South Africa a week ago I did not know what to expect. Small and sweet smiling faces greeted me. Little hands fell into my hands. Hearts where shown through little eyes. They did not know why we were there or what to think of us as we walked around and greeted them.
As we came to know them and we started seeing their day to day lives…the Father started to humble me. Their clothes are not designer clothes, their food is not from some health food store or well known restaurant, their rooms were shared with 4 and 5 others. Older children had stepped into parent roles and took responsibility for the younger children.
The story I want to tell you is of the 14 year old girl I met. A girl who God has used to show me that selflessness is a precious gift.
She smiles and greets us in English every day. Every morning she wakes early and gives the babies a bath and dresses them for preschool and school. She in turn gets ready for school herself.
In the afternoon when they all begin to arrive home we take that time to play games with them and just talk with them. Yet she is not always present in the group every day during playtime due to chores she has to perform after arriving home from school. She hand washes her school uniform and personal clothing. When that is done she gets the babies all in the house and bathes them before dinner. After that she would then take the time to do her homework, where she has many questions and is up late to get it all completed. Then starts the day over again the next morning.
The sacrifices that this young girl makes in her youth is what humbles me. She is so selfless and cares for the younger children of the home. God opened my eyes to just how very blessed I am and how I take even the smallest of moments with Him for granted.
We came on a mission to share His light. We came to share His love He has given us in abundance. Yet in turn He has shined His light into our lives and loved on us once again through these beautiful little hearts.
God showed me I needed to focus less on myself and more on Him. To open my eyes and seek Him more and more each day. Whether it be in His light that shines through the smile of child, or through the diligent work of a young girl who shows that you should love others before yourself. (John 15:12) We are to remember that God is the light of the world and He is a light that will always shine and never go out.
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30
