so i know i promised a blog on the stronghold of lust and image…and it’s still being worked on. but here’s a quick thought from an experience the other day.
about three days ago, i went with four other world racers to an orphanage right on the russian border. it’s an orphanage for special cases, mainly handicapped, mentally disabled, or invalid children. it was an incredible experience to walk into the center and see children who had often been rejected, children who couldn’t be cared for, and children who really had nothing.
we walked around playing with the children. we played volleyball with some that were able to run around, played in smaller rooms at the end of the wing of the orphanage with those who couldn’t. all the while, we hugged them, gave them piggy back rides, and stroked their hair.
in another wing of the orphanage were several rooms full of beds that had the extremely crippled children who couldn’t communicate at all, with the lone exception of smiles. our team of five went in and prayed over these children, rubbing their shaved heads and rubbing their arms, even holding their hands if they’d let us.
we were going to go a second day, but we got an early morning call that one of the children had passed away the night of our first visit. i don’t know exactly which child it was, but as i sat and prayed about the situation, grieving the loss of a child i don’t really know, the Lord left me with a really calming thought.
at some point that day, i had shown that child love through touch. i have to believe that the Lord used that single act to show love to a child that probably doesn’t get a lot of love and attention. There’s a part of my heart that knows the Lord used my touch to communicate His love to that child. and before that child was held forever in the arms of Yhwh God, He chose to use me to hold that child.
