I told
Frankie this morning he is my favorite.
I’m sure, like parents, were not supposed to have favorites or at least
say we have favorites but sometimes you just can’t help it. Sometimes your heart is uniquely touched in
the most unexpected ways. With Frankie
it was definitely his sweet demeanor and joyful spirit that first tugged at my
heart, but when he asked in broken English out of the blue if I wanted to see
his fish I realized I had developed a fondness for this little guy. Fish!?!
You mean in addition to the goats, chickens, ducks, cats and dogs there
are also fish here at Kedesh?!?
Off we
went on a trail leading towards a shaded corner of the property to show me
little concrete pools made for many of the younger boys. Each pool was its own little habitat of
tadpoles, complete with miniature water lily and moss. He showed me each of the pools and was
particularly delighted with his. Like a
proud parent I’d felt his was the most beautiful and well kept which I couldn’t
say in Portuguese but with my basic Spanish and a large smile I think he
understood my message.
The
next morning he sat down next to me quietly.
I asked him a few questions with limited response partially because it
was 5:30AM (we wake up with the sun here) but mostly because of his limited
English. Once another older boy came
over to translate, Frankie had the other boy tell me his fish had babies. Really!?!
Given the tadpoles were already so small and there are so many of them
how could he possibly know they had babies?!? Next thing I knew he had gotten a
bucket, scooped some of the tadpoles out of their well-kept habitat, and
brought them to me excited to share.
Every
month we work with kids I always tell my team I’m not too fond of kids claiming
they exhaust me and I can’t keep up with them. They generally require way too
much attention and take me away from my personal agenda. While they still possess enviable energy, I
love how God is using them to change my often hardened and skeptical heart. Their innocence is inspiring. Their simplicity is surreal. Their desire to be loved is universal and not
something we grow out of. Made in God’s
image we all, just like God, desire to be loved. When I lost my loving earthly father, it was
a life changing relief to discover there was always a Father in heaven who loves
us no matter what. I am here now to love
Frankie even if that means putting my personal agenda aside. And even though I
will be leaving I can make sure he knows without me, or biological parents,
there is a God who will never stop loving him and marveling at Frankie and his
fish.
Who
needs a little love in your life today??
