It was through my sweet friend, Danae, that the Lord revealed more of His heart to me this past month…
Despite 3 and a half hours of transportation being on crutches, she joined us on our first day to Heart of Christ ministry. Her team had been there the week prior and were so touched by Gracie’s ministry that Danae wanted to chance to see it for herself.
Where my team and I were a little hesitant with Ivona and Erica, the two girls with Cerebral Palsy, Danae dove right in and wanted to hold Ivona. With Ivona in her lap, squirming around, but smiling larger than ever, I saw such a beautiful image of Jesus… being completely at ease with us, cradling us even while we squirm, being moved by our smile.
As we returned the next day, I remembered how freely Danae had loved this precious girl who had been left to die by her mother, slowly starving to death and weighing a mere 15 pounds when they rescued her at age five. Where loving on the other babies felt more comfortable, and even rewarding as they giggled, grabbed your fingers, and fell asleep in your arms…loving Ivona was uncomfortable, didn’t feel natural, but was so completely right, and such a clear picture of obedience to our call to love as Christ first loved us, showing no favoritism or preference. Simply loving whoever he come in contact with, whoever was placed in his path.
That day, my second day at Heart of Christ, the person placed in my path was Ivona.
Seeing Marian, the nanny, struggling to carry her while trying to drape a towel over her shoulder, I used what little Spanish I knew to offer to help. I followed her over to a basin full of water and we bathed Ivona, the girl never ceasing to squirm…from the fetal position to as straight as a board. It was difficult, but as Marian went to grab Erica (the other girl with CP), she told me where Ivona’s clothes were. As I was empowered to take care of this girl for the moments while Marian was gone, my confidence with Ivona grew, as did my eyes for her.
I noticed the way she smiled, responding to my voice.
The way she shivered after her bath, but couldn’t wrap herself more in her towel.
How dependent she was on human help, but how betrayed she had been by those closest to her in the past.
How her eyes wandered all over the place, but would lock with mine when I said her name.
God is in the process of giving me a new pair of eyes, eyes that cause my heart to swell, not judge or show favoritism.
There’s still much of the journey left, but Ivona has been an testament to how thorough the refining process will be in my heart.
