It’s Monday, approximately 1:05pm – my team and I have just arrived to the after school program where we will be working alongside a group of Romanian children to work on homework and provide basic English lessons.
We’re five minutes in – sandwiches have been served to all the young un’s and my team members and myself have sat down at a table with some of the older kids. We are learning their names. There’s Flori, Florica, Yuli (the boy), Yuli (the girl), and several more that we are acquainted with. We are using our few Romanian words to figure out ages, and what homework still needs to be completed. I begin to help Andrea to my left who is working on some math; Florica across the table is doing her own thing, interrupting from time to time to ask about the number of holes in my ears, or to give some input to Andrea’s homework. All at once, mid-math problem, Florica says, “Christina….” I look over at her, and she says, “I love you.”
I’m reeling. My mind is cornered, I have to say something, and it’s been at least 3 seconds since she uttered the words I dread repeating back. I have to say something…so an “awhhhh….” escapes my mouth. I know I can’t leave it at that. She’s expecting me to say something else because she knows I understood the English words she blatantly voiced. I add an “I do too.”
And just like that the moment was over, smiles were exchanged and I am sure Florica stopped thinking about the words that made me so uneasy.
You see friends– I never really use the words “I love you” towards many people, especially within 10 minutes of knowing them. I didn’t plan on having a girl after briefly meeting me speak these words. Now, maybe she didn’t fully know what she was saying or she didn’t mean what she was saying; yet I was convicted of the fact that I often forget the gift that I have received in Jesus to love others in the way he loves me. When I personally couldn’t say “I love you” to a girl I just met, Jesus who lives in me can shine through my actions and words; and he helps me to respond with an “I do too” to Florica, to Flori who made the same comment a few days after, and even to my very own teammates when it’s tough to.
Jesus’ love is so much better than my love anyways. His love is full of grace, mercy, and is not exclusive at all. I am learning a lot from the children at the after school program; their joy and happiness is overwhelming. Many of them – come from families where they are not getting the proper love and affirmation they need. This month has proven to be an opportunity for me to stretch myself and share the love of Jesus with everyone I come into contact with.
Whether I am in Romania or Canada, or Timbuktu – Jesus’ love should always be exuding from me towards others.
It is definitely a work in progress.
I leave you with this word from da Lord in John 13:34.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
I pray this is encouraging to you – and I hope we continue to be quick to say “I love you” to God’s children around the world.
