This is Danny. She is one of the beautiful women I get to spend this month with. She is a woman of few words. She is quiet, smart and peaceful. We have been getting to know each other in a unique silent presence. Her smiles are a treasure I look forward to everyday!
Let’s back track just a bit. Starting last week my squad and I have been walking to a campus of homes for disabled adults who have been abandoned and left behind to spend each day serving and loving them.
The house my team adopted is full of so many different personalities. Most of our days at the home consist of bringing everyone out to sit on the porch. Sometimes we paint, draw, or dance but most of the time we sit in the sun listening to music. Adjusting to the slower pace of life here was difficult. I am so used to always doing something and I was ready to jump in. I would show up every day looking for something “productive” to do, eager to help with laundry or cooking or cleaning. But as ready as I was to do the tangible tasks, each day I would find myself “just” sitting with residents on the porch.
I quickly began to get to know all the different residents and their personalities, all except for Danny. Every time I would sit or talk with her I was greeted with a blank stare. We would look at each other for a while and then I would smile and go say hi to somebody else. I would constantly seek Danny out and sit with her for a little while but then I would get distracted by Nino, Maria or another one of the friends I have gotten to know. I couldn’t figure out what was going on in Danny’s head as she would just sit alone and quietly watching everyone. One afternoon I decided to spend my time with Danny and be intentional with her instead of getting pulled away. For a couple of hours we sat together not doing much other than listening to music and holding hands and still no response from her. There I was thinking that she just wanted me to leave her alone when she looked over at me flashed one of the most treasured smiles I have ever received. Since that day, every morning I am greeted by her beautiful smile and a hug.
This is how I have been living life with God. I make time to say hi to Him and talk for a little bit. But when I don’t hear anything I easily get pulled away by what is happening around me. I constantly seek out the Lord but when He doesn’t answer me in my timing, I let the world distract me again and again. This month God is telling me to SLOW DOWN because I am missing what He has for me. And man is it weird but I am already seeing so much fruit from it and I have only been doing it for a couple of days now. If I hadn’t slowed down and taken the time to sit with Danny Tuesday afternoon I would have missed her beautiful smile and every smile and hug after that. Sitting with her (and all of the residents) means so much more to Danny than I could have ever imagined. Showing her that she is seen and loved and worth the time of the people around her is something she did not grow up knowing or experiencing. Although to me it may have seemed slow and insignificant there is purpose in the small things.
Don’t miss what God is doing in your life because you are rushing Him or its not in your timing. I challenge you to join me for the rest of this month, 13 days, and SLOW YOUR ROLL! Don’t let your schedule run your life. Don’t get distracted by filling up every minute of every day. Don’t get caught up in the holiday chaos. Take some time to slow down and see what God is doing in your life. Let Him talk to you in His timing. Find purpose in the small things and in the slow things. Take a breath. Breathe.
Love you all! Happy early Thanksgiving!! I am beyond thankful for every single one of you. Thank you for your support, encouragement, and love! Thank you for loving the Lord and walking in this journey with me. Thank you for being you!
Martha Kuhn
Prayer Warriors!
- Please pray for my teammates as a lot of them are healing and processing through past pain. Pray that God would show Himself as a comforter and protector and that their hearts would be open.
- Pray for new energy as we walk into this next week.
- May the Holy Spirit revel Himself in new and exciting ways.
- Patience as we all learn how to slow down and rely on God and His timing.
