So I’m watching these kids sitting on the floor, waiting in aspiration for a pair of shoes. The helpers walk around and hand a pair of universal white shoes to each child that looks approximately like the right size….
And by “right” size, I mean could be 5 sizes too big or 3 sizes too small. They just have to hope that they’re handed good shoes.
Not to mention, all the shoes look basically the same and the kids get no choice in the minimal variety that there is.
I help some of the kids try on shoes and don’t have much luck. There are only shoes small enough to fit an 8 year old, so anyone younger than that don’t get any. One of the kids looks hopefully at me wanting so badly to keep a pair of shoes that is 3 sizes too big, and I have to sadly take them off his feet and give them to someone else. #heartbroken
I then proceed to watch them write their name in sharpie on the bottom of their little white shoes: the one differentiator between each pair.
And after that, they wrap their own pair of shoes in a plastic bag….
I’m sitting here trying to smile and make them feel loved but my heart is just broken inside….
Meanwhile, my mom sent me a package the other day probably worth more than all of these kids’ presents combined….how do I even cope with that???
To be honest, my heart hasn’t really broken for kids before like it did last night. I can’t explain the feeling, but I just felt this deep empathy for these children. I was almost in tears thinking about how these kids may never get to experience getting a choice. Getting something that is uniquely theirs that they don’t have to fight over. Having someone put thought and care into them as an individual.
Last night, a few things happened in my heart.
First off, I suddenly felt this deep thankfulness for my family.
Why was I born into such good living conditions?
Why did God bless me with parents who are able to provide for me??
Sometimes, you don’t realize how truly blessed you are until you’re in a situation where the people around you truly have nothing to claim as their own…
That’s where my second realization comes in:
What a beautiful picture of the gospel this is!!!
Without God, we are all in the orphan’s position. We are lost, hopeless, and often feel forgotten. So many times, we don’t know who we are because we just feel like “one in the crowd….”
But praise God that through His son, he adopts is as children into his kingdom!!!
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God [Romans 8:15-16]
These kids don’t feel entitled to anything; they are some of the most pure hearted, joyful kids I’ve ever met! They had zero complaints when they saw the little white shoes, they were just thankful that they got something!!! Even the kids that didn’t get any shoes weren’t pouting or anything… I was upset for them, but God just spoke to me and was like “how much more do I know how to give good gifts???” #WRECKED
I’m so so grateful for a Father who gives us unique, beautiful, perfect gifts. Those kids have something far better waiting for them than earthly possessions.
Sometimes, especially in America, we have so many “things” that distract us from seeing greatest gift that’s right in front of us! It’s okay to have things, it’s only when we put those things above God that it becomes an issue.
I could easily look at the things that I have or the materialism of America and be angry, but what if instead, I changed my perspective: how can I use what I’ve been given to bless others? Because that’s honestly all God is calling us into ya know?? All for his glory 🙂
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. [James 1:17]
This Christmas season, let us be deeply grateful for the things that we’ve been given! Because I truly believe that all good things are from God–money, food, time, energy, etc.
Take a moment to think about how you can use what He’s given you to bless others this week! Merry Christmas!!!
Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
God places the lonely in families;
he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
[Psalm 68:5-6]
