Prayer:
Lord, open my eyes to see the needs of those around me. Take away my busy mind, my pride, my belief that my action or inaction will not make a difference. Give me your compassion. Give me your passion!
Above was my prayer during a worship session in the park with my team. Prior to this prayer, I knew God was in our presence and the Holy Spirit was moving but I couldn’t discern where I was being led until I opened my eyes after “Amen”. Directly in my line of vision was this little girl sitting there by herself. I got up and walked over to her, kneeled down to her level and I asked (and motioned) if I could sit. She nodded, and I sat. I started to ask questions and she answered through body language and head nods, which made me know she understood some English. I asked her name, she replied Lydia. When I asked where her mother was, she pointed to the other side of the park. I believed her, but I couldn’t see her anywhere. Lydia’s clothes were dirty and a little torn, her sandals too small, but those eyes..those eyes were beaming. She humored me by answering my questions, and I humored her by blowing bubbles and laughing as we chased them.
Conveniently, not coincidentally, the team brought a bottle of bubbles….
Thank you, Jesus!
I knew my team had to leave, so I prayed over her and in hopes to see her again, I asked if she’d be in the park the next day, but she nodded no. We both waved and slowly walked away from each other.
A week later, I’m walking down the market streets with Jess and we see this beautiful girl grinning ear to ear…..it’s sweet Lydia and her mother. It was too quick, passing by in the busy-ness of a market street, but getting to share smiles and a wave from across the street was enough to give me hope to see her again. She continued to be on my mind as the days passed, and everywhere I went, I looked for her and her mother.
I couldn’t stop thinking about Lydia. Sunday afternoon I had some free time and I wanted to find her. I knew the Holy Spirit was nudging me to move…so I did. After church I walked down to the bridge near the park where I thought she might be sitting with her mother….they weren’t there.
I hung-out around that area, went into a store where 20 minutes flew by, and I started walking home. I purposefully walked under the bridge, but I didn’t see her….until I got to the end of the bridge where I had to cross the street…and there she was!
The mother had Lydia’s head flipped over combing through the grease when she made eye contact with me, smiled, and nudged Lydia to let her know to look up. Lydia quickly flipped her head over and had a smile that was as bright as the sun.
I sat on the bench and much to my surprise, the mother spoke pretty good broken English. We introduced ourselves, and Mary began telling me of her struggles, how they’ve traveled from country to country, how they are homeless, and how everything they own is in a backpack that is smaller than my big pack for 11 months. I didn’t need to understand every word coming out of her mouth as she tried to explain her life to me.
People can say a thousand words with just one look if you’re paying attention, and she knew I saw her pain as we both teared up. Lydia was twirling under the bridge like there wasn’t a care in the world. This is her normal. This is her life.
When her mother was telling me about their sleeping and showering situation, the Lord immediately told me to ask them if they wanted to go to get their hair washed. So without hesitation I asked, Lydia perked up, and with a smile they both said yes!! We got up and started walking, Lydia in the middle, holding both of our hands as we made our way down the dirt road toward the hair salon.
The three of us got our hair washed, conditioned and blown out. Lydia wanted (and needed) a hair cut, so we did that too….she looked like a princess, but more importantly she FELT like one!! (Fun fact: in Myanmar, you can get your hair blown out for $4USD) The amount of love that filled that hair salon yesterday afternoon was priceless….Jesus was with us, and maybe Mary, Lydia and the ladies washing our hair didn’t know it was Jesus, but they knew it was love.
I realize I’m not resolving their homelessness, hunger, or many of their needs, but that isn’t always what we’re sent to do. In this scenario, the Lord called me to love on this mother and daughter by spending my afternoon listening, making them feel seen and cared for, and being willing to offer them a little pampering with the resources my Father has blessed me with.
The life Mary desired isn’t the life she has now, and with a broken, yet passionate heart, I explained her story is not finished….Lydia’s story is not finished, and as I spoke this over them, I spoke the same over myself. None of our broken dreams, personal heartaches, or shattered plans will stop His desire for us to fulfill our purpose. It’s by making God’s promises bigger — getting into His Word and letting it get into us — that is what revives our hearts. Worshipping Him opens the door for God to heal us.
Learning how to change our perspective helps us transition from disappointment to trusting like a little child. It’s how we recover our wonder.
The Lord is using me. My life is being altered under a bridge. A piece of my heart will remain there. And I couldn’t be more grateful for this privilege!!
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Father, thank you for using me as a visible part of Your invisible movement. Thank you for reaching into humanity and interrupting our lives. I pray that I will not be content with a safe, sheltered life but instead will continue to be someone who is passionate about those who are broken. About those who are closest to Your heart. Help me recover my wonder, pursue my purpose, and fulfill my destiny!
In Christ,
Emily Cate
