The day we came to move into her apartment she greeted us with the kind of enthusiasm and love that makes you a little self conscious . You know… like wow… what did i do to deserve such a welcome? As we walked into her apartment we all got hugs, kisses, cheering and clapping. Like she was the blessed one! Although it was her that was giving 6 girls a place to live for a month.
After living with Valerija (who we affectionately call granny) for a few weeks now, I understand that she loves us that much because that is who she is. Not for anything we had done or can do. I have witnessed it in different ways and with different people almost every day that I have been here.
I see Jesus when I look at Valerija. I see it in how she loves others.
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35
A disciple is one who looks like their teacher. Valerija looks like Jesus in the way she loves.
Valerija is a 76 year old Latvian lady who lives in old soviet apartments, plays the accordion and swims in the frigid Baltic sea every morning. She is full of life and joy and love and one of those people you just want to be around. And its not because of the wonderful stories we heard from her or her infinite wisdom. We can't even communicate with her.
We speak different languages. Everyday, we play charades together trying to figure out what the other person is saying. We usually end up just shrugging our shoulders and laughing. Actually, until a couple days ago, when Pauls translated for us, we knew very little about granny except that she made us feel so welcomed and loved.
The world says that love has to be earned. Be good. Do right. Live up to my expectations. Then you are worthy of love. It says that I have to fit some sort of mold to be accepted and loved. Granny is a living reminder that that isn't true. The thing that humbles me everyday and reminds me of Jesus is that we didn't do anything to earn her love. We just showed up on her doorstep.
And we aren't the only people Valerigja loves on here in Latvia. There are countless people I have seen come through her door this month. People that many would turn their nose up at and judge, but not granny. She invites them in her home, gives them something to eat, prays for them, shares about Jesus and just loves them right where they are at.
I might be traveling the world to teach others about Jesus, but others around the world are teaching me about Him!
