Once upon Africa there was a little boy named Trevor. He was around 7 years old and had a presence that you couldn’t miss. He first caught my attention when he walked past me at church with his little One-For-One Toms on. I knew this kid had to be awesome since he was rockin the Toms. As days turned to weeks. I began to see my heart grow in compassion for Trevor. There was something special about him that drew me close to him. One evening I was told a little more about Trevor’s story. Trevor and his sister Tracy had been abandoned by their Father. He left them and their mother at home. With fear of not being able to support the kids, their mom decided to leave them at the church. Trevor and Tracy were left homeless. After hearing this my heart broke. I couldn’t imagine the thought of being left by your family. I was soon reminded of Trevor and his out look on life. Everytime I see him he is smiling and it never fails that I hear him giggling. He is filled with joy and I know that joy has come from the Father. God has placed Trevor and his sister into the hands of a woman at the church and let me tell you this woman is amazing. She is a God fearing, servant of The Lord. I praise God for her and the obedience she has to the call of raising kids who aren’t even her own.
God has taught me a lot through Trevor. God has allowed for an increase in my heart for God’s children, young and old. I have held Trevor in my arms and I have looked at him with a fathers hearts. I hug him with the arms of a father. I encourage him with the support of a father and ultimately love him with the love of the father. I am not a father nor do I plan to be one for awhile but I do believe this month God wanted me to experience how he sees us. In meeting Trevor, God was growing my understanding of what it’s like to share in our Father God’s heart. He hurts when we are hurting, he has compassion on us when he sees our struggles, and his joy is our strength. No matter if we feel abandoned, worthless, and mistreated. Our Father in Heaven is there and wants to hug us, support us, and ultimately love us.
Yes these are things I have heard before but it’s something God wanted me to feel and believe even more. Just like Trevor, God has a redemption story for each one of us. He loves us so much. We catch his attention and he feels something special for each and everyone of us. Trust that.
Trevor will be my hardest good-bye on the race so far. Yes it’ll be tough leaving his laugh and funny personality but the memories will last. I can only hope that he will grow up to remember the bearded white man that was in his life for a month and wanted nothing more then to love him well.
