Have you ever felt like God slapped you in the face? The other day at ministry it happened. I got slapped. I was sitting with the kids at vbs with a little boy on my lap. He is sweet but a bit of a trouble maker. I call him monkey. He is always clinging and climbing all over me or anyone he can get his hands on. All of the sudden I started to cry. I was pretty confused. I felt joy but sorrow at the same time. It’s like God opened my eyes and heart. I felt the little boys love, his pain, his curiosity, his anger. I began to pray. God showed me that in this life we can’t control everything. Like the life we get dealt. We can’t control the helpless kids living in shacks on dirt floors, with no shoes and often no money to eat. We can’t control the young girls being raped. Our ministry hosts informed us that in their nine years of being in Peru they have only met one girl who had not been raped by the age of eleven and most often by family members. We can’t control the brothel we pass every morning on the way to ministry disguised as a hotel. I’m not gonna lie I became a bit frustrated… God what can I do? I can’t afford to build all the kids homes. I can’t protect every girl. What difference can I make?
God so gently spoke to me that morning in vbs. He said I have given you all you need Sarah and just open your eyes and heart “open the eyes of my heart lord.” I thought umm God my eyes are open and yes I know I have what I need but what about the others? How can I help? He showed me that by loving on monkey, it does make a difference. By eating a bowl of soup at Ecuasol from our awesome kitchen ladies, we made their day. By taking the time to color with the kids, it puts a smile on their faces; maybe the only smile all day. By greeting the church goers with a kiss and smile, we are able to show deserved respect. By asking to pray for a stranger, we can make a moment life altering. Life is about showing God and his love through everything we do. No matter how grand or minutiae.
I quickly realized how one person doing one thing can change the course of a day or even a life. We should keep in mind how others affect us because we often don’t realize how we affect others. Like when you’re having a bad day and a hug from a friend can turn that around or when you’re walking down the street and a stranger tells you you’re pretty and it makes your day. You don’t know how powerful your hugs can be. How powerful your words can be.
When you think you’re not doing enough or making a difference, remember that kid you hugged today? It probably made their day. That extra scoop of rice you took? It made the cook feel loved. The little girl you taught to tie her shoes? She will remember you every time she does it. That old man you smiled to and said hi to everyday? He felt worthy. My prayer is that God continues to open my eyes and doesn’t let me forget the little things. We can’t control everything but we can control, how we love, how we treat each other and how we act. So don’t be scared to ask to pray for a stranger ( I’m still working on that). Give extra hugs and just love one another. With God we can change lives and each other.
Mucho love and God bless
ps. Pics coming soon 🙂
