We walked up to the house to find Spongile with a huge smile on her face. She immediately came up to us and gave us big handshakes peppered with endless declarations of “Thank you, Thank you so much.” We were there for our first home visit in Swaziland, and she was ecstatic.
The home visit progressed with us asking her questions about her life and learning that she had built her mud and stone home with her own two hands; she had a son who lived with sponsors because she couldn’t afford to send him to school; she made a living making twig brooms and chicken nests which she sold to neighbors; and because of the mountain location of her home, it takes her 30 minutes to walk to church each day, hours to walk down the mountain to the nearest market, and an entire day and a lot of money to go into town.
The more she spoke, the more our hearts broker for her, but not because of her situation— because of her joy. Though she could easily find so many reasons to be sad, despair, or get angry with God for dealing her these cards in life, she chose to have faith and rejoice in Him. She sang a Siswati song for us about how good God is and continually said, “I’m so thankful that I have God. There is none like Him.”
We were so moved by her peace and contentment that we read the following verse to her:
“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13, NLT)
What she said next blew our minds even more. She said, “Yes, that is so true, and I thank God that I have plenty!” Can you believe that?! This moved some of us to tears and convicted me to my core.
How much do I appreciate the little things? How much do I complain or feel entitled to have a lot? So many people around the world live on next to nothing compared to what we have in America, and yet we still find reasons to complain. If Spongile taught me nothing else, it’s to be grateful that I have Jesus and in Him I have everything I need. So I should never have a reason to complain but always have a reason to praise.
And praise she did! The day was topped off when Spongile, a woman with very little to her name, rejoiced over the $30 worth of groceries that we bought her and then brought out the breakfast that she had made for us. If that isn’t a spirit of contentment and selflessness, then I don’t know what is!
I pray that God would give me a heart like Spongile and I challenge you to desire it as well. Push yourself to appreciate every little blessing in your life. Don’t take anything for granted or complain. Trust God for everything and give Him all the glory.
