Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them-walking, leaping, and praising God. Acts 3:1-8
This is my friend Sara. On July 16th she passed away from this world and is now with Jesus. Having perhaps gone through the Beautiful Gate just as he who received the miracle of a healed body, she now has a healed and glorified body. She brought everyone to life with her wit and humor. If only her brilliant mind had not been trapped inside a failing body. We had many talks about her dreams for a future, she wanted to walk down the aisle to her bridegroom someday. She had plans to work with therapists to regain strength to force her body into the submission of her dreams. She now has the best husband and walked straight into His arms.
I miss her, it was last year that she fell ill. Her lively spirit was subdued, somehow she was locked inside her traumatized body. After some visits to the hospital I busily moved forward with all my World Race preparations and failed her as a friend. I realized when I left the country that it was without a farewell to Sara. I trust that God intended to redeem this by my India ministry placement. Shortly after Sara’s death I worked at Sarah’s Covenant Homes, an orphanage for disabled children. My friend Sara had a covenant too, to live and love in a radical way. If I could only tell Sara how much I loved those children! In a way that was after Sara’s own heart, myself and the children got into a little mischief with a lot of laughter, spunk and fun.
There were the walks to the park that included stroller racing. The kiddie pool filled with rice and beans (in India you are always surrounded by rice). Story times that were quite animated by sound effects. Games, crafts, and cuddles. Being silly was an everyday joy. When I was tasked with cleaning the walls to remove crayon and pencil, I recruited some little helpers to get rid of all their practice of writing names and the alphabet. All I can say is that there were some sudsy steps in the stairwell. What an even bigger mess we made, but such good times!
Pure and undefiled religion before god the father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:27
Most of the children had been abandoned but you would not know it for the love of the foster moms, the nurse maids, the therapists, the directors of the program and the large number of volunteers loving them in creative ways.
One little boy stole my heart, he was nicknamed Happy Baby, I wish I could share with everyone his bright eyes and sweet smile but the Indian government doesn’t allow the faces of the children to appear online. This little boy didn’t speak much and couldn’t hold up his head and yet his head was held high. He knew how to demand attention with some simple charming gestures, he blew kisses and put his hands together to say Namaste. We had a blast together, he was always in my arms as I played with the other children. When I would set him down he would start crying profusely, I’d hold him just a little longer at the end of the day. He wanted to feel special and for a time that was the gift we gave each other.
As for your nativity, on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed in water to cleanse you; you were not rubbed with salt nor wrapped in swaddling cloths. No eye pitied you, to do any of these things for you, to have compassion on you; but you were thrown out into the open field, when you yourself were loathed on the day you were born. “And when I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ yes, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ Ezekiel 16:4-6
The children may have bodies that limit them but just in the way I honored my friend Sara, I looked more at what God was doing through them rather than at the outer appearance. It pains me to think these children were cast aside, but God had them live! Everyone in their lives has an uplifted spirit because of how much life they bring, Sara did that for everyone that surrounded her. She and they are fearfully and wonderfully made. She may be gone now but the same spirit that gave her a wonderful testimony of God’s faithfulness is dwelling in those kids. I hope the children enjoy a miracle on this side of Heaven, I spent the month praying that into place. Please join me and let’s all pray for their healing and lots of adoptions!
Farwell to my Sara, always to be cherished for the beautiful life that pointed back to her creator.
