I know we are to have the faith of a child, but last Friday God showed me His essence through a child named Boy Boy. Boy Boy is a clingy two year old with a precious smile, eyes that shine with life, and the ability to cry on command. His ability to cry on command is impressive and there are real tears, a lot of them. He cries most often if you are holding another child and not him. The best is when I am sitting with my teammate and he is on my lap then he cries when a child sits on her lap because he can’t go over to her lap if he wants. He is always a mess and wants to climb on your lap right after he has eaten, way before he even thinks of washing his hands. He sings the songs from class when you least expect it. The best is when he belts out the line ‘I love Jesus’ right in your ear. You can’t help but smile. In all honesty he is one of my favorites and I would hold him all day if I could and I would even bring him home.
Last Friday was a tough day. We found out that morning that the Shepard at our care point, Sofiso, had lost his dad that morning in a car accident. Sofiso is in charge of mentoring, discipling, and helping the 200+ kids at the care point. It was a very somber day and my heart had broken for Sofiso. When we returned after lunch we found out we were going to announce what had happened to all the kids that afternoon. I didn’t want to be there at that moment and I couldn’t hold back my tears any longer as it all hit too close to home. Luckily Boy Boy was in my arms smiling.
As I was standing there with tears in my eyes I held Boy Boy tight in my arms and God began to reveal His essence to me. This child had tears in His eyes as I did because when we grieve God grieves with us. Boy Boy hugged me tight as I held him tight like God holds us and comforts us when we need it. After the hug Boy Boy gave me a big smile which gave me hope just like God gives us hope in His eternal love. Boy Boy clung to me just like God is always right by our side, never leaving or forsaking us. I was amazed how God was speaking to me in that moment; revealing His very essence through a two year old.
Later I thought more about Boy Boy and how he gets upset if he doesn’t get held or if he doesn’t get to sit on our lap and God is the same. God gets upset if we don’t spend time with Him, talk to Him, and love on Him. I thought about how his eyes shine with life and that must be how God looks at us, his precious children. I doubt God is messy like Boy Boy, but I’m glad God comes to us when we are a mess and cleans us up before we ever think about cleaning ourselves up. Boy Boy loves anyone and that shows me God’s unrelenting love! Who would have thought God is like a 2 year old?!?
