Have you ever been given a gift that it makes your heart skip a beat? You pause, and almost want to deny it’s surprising goodness and return it, quickly?
This happened this week. We weren’t given a lot of money, a car, or anything of high dollar value.
In fact, were given the opposite – things of absolute very low dollar value: a tube of Colgate Toothpaste, and clay pottery worth a few coins from the local market.
We are going to the Market every day, not to buy goods, but to truly see people. God has led us to go into the crazy inside and outside maze of the Antigua, Guatemalan market – to see His children. Who does he want to disciple? Who does he want healed? Who is lonely? Who needs training in their spiritual journey? Where does he want worship and dancing to break out?
And so we’re going. This market has personally been a place where I have gotten really good at bartering. I can finagle my way into getting a 15 Quetzales Pinneaple, for 8 Q…a steal!! And I get proud about it!
However, rarely have I gone into the market with these eyes – to see the people for who they are, not seeing them as a person to price beat.
And in just a few days of this, what does God do? He shows us His heart.
Juanna – after a growing 5 minute conversation with her – she looks to us and says, “Un regalo.” (A gift). I stood there shocked. I thought to myself, “Wait, she’s giving me the toothpaste? That doesn’t seem right, these things cost a lot of money to them. And she’s giving it to me?” I couldn’t understand. Juanna new this was my favorite brand (Colgate Total). It maybe came out in our conversation together. And now, for the first time in a year of living and shopping at this market – I was given a gift. And such a personal gift.
Maria – 2 days later, after Henri, Stu and I spent several days with her and her two neices just talking, sitting, and learning more about them, she opens her heart and says “Pick!” She was looking at her baskets of small clay pottery items. She wanted each of us to pick a piece of pottery for ourselves.
Again, I was dumbfounded. Earlier, she told us that business was slow. And now here she is, with her two neices, giving to us out of her poverty, her lack. With a smile, and lots of laughs between all 5 of us, we enjoyed each other, this moment, and how special it was.
Giving out of lack, out of nothing, is so powerful. We were humbly reminded of this. These women are so precious. And for them to give these items, it actually means so much, especially in this market and their hard working lives.
How beautiful this was.
We saw God. We saw love. We saw beauty. And it was powerful…
His true pure love is so powerful it makes the heart skip a beat and a tear well up in the eye. His ways are so beautiful. I hope you also get to experience this in your day today and life. We can be this to others, as He shows us that even the least of these are the greatest of these in the Kingdom of God! His pure love, too powerful for words. Unconditional, pure, giving, even to the least.
“Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more
than all those who are contributing to the offering box.
For they all contributed out of their abundance,
but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had,
all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41)
“For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?…Love your enemies.” (Matt. 5)
True pure love loves as He loves
