This month, a month usually filled with excitement, joy, family get together’s and celebrating, is vastly different. It’s quite lonely here in Laos and sharing in the joy of Christmas is much harder here because of the oppression from the government and inability to talk openly about our faith. It’s hard because we have no contact here and no one to encourage us in the work we are trying to accomplish, which is finding and encouraging other believers. It’s hard because we have a lot of down time to pray and reflect and think about what we are missing.
During one of our team Ahmad times (quiet time with the Lord), a challenge was proposed to write about something that inspires you. I’m sure you can relate to a time when finding something positive to rave about can be extremely hard. Having spent the previous couple days pretty down and sad, I had spent a lot of time conversing with my mom and dad back in the states trying to uplift my spirits. As the music started to play my pen hit the paper running.
Mom and Dad this one’s for you.
My mom. My Dad. They remind me of Naomi in the Bible. Naomi guided Ruth through every facet of life; sacrificing and living to take care of Ruth and give her not only what she needs, but desires. My mom. My dad. They are so selfless. Ft hey live to provide not for themselves, but for me. They have battled the enemy themselves to get to a place where they can battle the enemy for me. She hopes, he hopes for me, prays for me, seeks the Lord on my behalf. They always want the best for me and more. They want the right things: for me to be grounded in the word, to understand the purpose and meaning of this life. The desires of my heart they pray over. They get up and leave everything for their family and… for me. Who am I to receive such a beautiful, unique and abounding gift? A momma and daddy that loves so deep to the point of sacrificing everything in their life for ME.
That verse, the one that says one of the greatest commandments is to lay down your life for a friend… that doesn’t mean that you always have to die in order to lay down your life. My mother, my daddy, they’ve not only laid down their life for Jesus, but their life, their own plans and dreams for me. They’ve dedicated their lives to consistently providing opportunities for me to experience and meet Abba face to face; to understand what my existence and purpose is all about. How overwhelmed I am at the Father’s love as it gushes out and spills over their cup and into mine. It washes over my soul. It’s a love that’s indescribable, a rare love that I am one in a million to receive. Who gets that? Two sacrificial parents who would so selflessly put everything aside to show me what the word LOVE really means. Four letters cant contain the definition or embody what the Lord means as Love. It’s far beyond any words. It’s something so deep and thick and consuming that you must receive it in portions, in pieces and stages of your life because it’s so overwhelming. It takes a lifetime to understand the Love of the Father. His love, I have never understood until I flew halfway around the world. I feel it, see it, sense it. I know what it is because my parents stay up late to encourage me when I’m sad and discouraged, they leave jobs and find newones to provide and support me, they intercede on every need I have, they listen and ask about every experience I have, they fight for me when I’m too weak to do it myself, they forgive my many mistakes, and always see both perspectives. To live your life to give everything you can and will ever have for your children is the embodiment of Love.
His love has been constantly rushing over me since before I was born like swift waters smoothing a jagged stone in a river. His love has been embodied in my parents sacrifice and lives. I’m feeling the fullness if His love in the way my mom and dad are consistently sacrificial. This life is only given once and how beautiful it is that they would offer it to the feet of the Lord to set aside everything so He would use them to be an offering for me, for my salvation.
I am In awe at just how secretive but intentional His love really is. I have never recognized this love and how it took shape In the form of my mom and dad. It’s overwhelmingly beautiful. My heart is bursting and full. And if the only thing I will learned walking away from this year of seeking out the Lord is that His love is deep and wide, and high and is never ending, stretching far to the east to the west and ever present in ways we may never see, than I have felt a piece of heaven here on earth. My mom and dad represent the Love of Jesus to me endlessly and because I have experienced and continue to experience that tangible love, I have hope for the future and believe fully In the one and only true God.
I have new, deep, fresh and full appreciation of your love and the life you chose not only for yourselves but for me.
In awe of God’s mercy,
Sincerely your daughter,
Melissa Sue
