Lord Give me Your eyes.
“Papa, please give me your eyes. For this community, for my host, for my team, for everyone I come into contact with and for myself”
A simple enough prayer. I pray that the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords allows me to see His creation the way He sees it. I started praying this prayer almost a year ago because I was having self worth issues. I prayed that God would allow me to see myself the way He sees me, as on of his beautiful creations. I then started to pray this over more areas of my life. God has always come through with this prayer for me.
This month in Colombia I noticed that I was getting frustrated with the kids in our ministry. I noticed that I had always volunteered for the jobs that prevented me from being with the kids. Hearing everyone’s stories after ministry I thought I would give the kids a chance, but first I prayed. My prayer was that God would give me his eyes for the kids. The next day all I wanted to do was hug and hold each little one I came into contact with. If I got to hold on to one for awhile I would pray over them. I’m not a very touchy feely person but I craved the hugs of these kids.
One of the kids really stuck out to me.
He wasn’t like the other kids. He didn’t like to play any games during free time. He didn’t like to sit in class so he would leave class and sit alone somewhere. He wasn’t interested in our group. Also, he had a limp for the majority of the time we were there.
I could see the frustration building among the staff around this one child. I was at such a loss as to why this child was so different. Then one of the leaders opened up to me about him. She was frustrated because she didn’t know what to do about him BUT she knows his story.
This little boy has been sexually assaulted by his father for most of his life. He watches porn most days because it is constantly on in his home. The reason he has such a hard time giving hugs and participating in school is because this sickness is consuming his life.
Hearing this story flooded me with emotions. I wanted to throw up, cry and scream at that so called “father”. I instantly wanted to go to this child, hold him and make it all better; But I can’t do that. However, I know a God that can. After hearing this, my time with him became very intentional. I continue to pray for this little boy and I wish things would be different. Over the next two days he did open up a little bit. He got very excited and involved in our animal lesson and I got a photo with him. On our last day we lined up for the kids to say goodbye to us and he gave me a hug. Holding on to this child of God my heart just broke. I can’t fix his situation, all I can do is pray. And guess what? That is enough. The pressure is not on me, it is on God. God will show up but in his timing. His kingdom come, His will be done.
***Unfortunately, this child’s story isn’t uncommon in this community in Bogota, Colombia. I know when I heard this story I was frustrated that this child hadn’t been taken out of this abusive home. That is not how it works there, unfortunately. Please pray for the children in this community; That God would reach them and save them. Please pray for the staff at the school; That God would encourage them and give them the wisdom in these situations. Finally please pray for the parents of these children; That they would come to know the Lord and turn from their wicked ways***
