The other day I was watching our tents and hanging out with some of the community children. We bought the kids chalk and within minutes all of the free concrete was covered in brightly colored hand drawn dream houses , creatively decorated names and hopscotch games.
One of my favorite kids, a nine year old boy named Ryan insisted that I come play "King Cross " with them. It is the Philippine version of hopscotch. Now I was an elementary school girl back in the day so I know how to play hopscotch…or I thought.
King Cross is not at all the same i quickly learned, there is a very specific foot pattern that you have to follow in order to play correctly. Apparently I was incapable of getting my feet right…. I could have sworn I was doing the exact same thing the children, but every time I got to the place where I had to turn around one of them would exclaim "NO! " and fall into a fit of laughter.
So I would be given another example, and then told to try again. It would be safe to say that this happened well over 10 times, until I finally figured it out. As I laughed about how terrible I was with the children I thought about my own heart.
How many times have I told someone "No! You are doing it wrong," but not taken the time to show them how to do it right? Even if it meant showing them every single day. I would generally describe myself as a patient person…but not that patient. The thought of having to teach somebody the same thing, every single day is exhausting and trying and something I don't particularly want to do.
This same night we were praying and Mary B got one word for me:
LOVE.
My mind flashed back to the king cross game. I saw the love of Christ through this sweet child. No matter how many times I messed up, Ryan told me that I was wrong and patiently showed me an example again.
LOVE.
Jesus has been trying to teach me this for years I am sure. But on the race it began in El Salvador when one sweet day I realized I was beginning a romance with my Heavenly Father. Nicaragua , the Lord told me a hundred times that He wants me to sit and just be and let Him love me. Through my teammates, through His word. through Ryan, through His voice. I very much so enjoy loving, but I don't like being loved because thats when it gets messy and thats when I lose control.
LOVE.
Even though the Lord has been pounding it into my head these past few months. He is going to keep telling and showing me, every single day if He needs to, because that is who He is. He is patient and compassionate and already gave everything for His earthly children. His love already saved the world, and its strong enough to combat a stubborn heart.
LOVE.
