Again, the World Racers are slowly becoming a huge part of my life. I thought I was finished with the race, but I keep getting thrown back into the community, and to be honest, I like it much better on this end. I love getting to still experience the community within this group, but not really having to deal with all the drama. It’s hard when you try to tell 50 plus independent people to live dependent lives on each other. A ton of selfishness shows up. A ton of pride shows up. And a ton of drama usually comes from Satan’s attack and 50 different personalities. However, it’s a beautiful mess, and I kind of like getting a little more of it.
One thing I’ve loved seeing is when people look out for each other and prefer someone other than themselves. I’ve been able to see a ton of it with this group. Just last night, on Valentines night, I was faced with a choice. I could either join in on the squad wide Valentines dance, or I could try and get a few people to join so that Tara and I could get the closest thing to a date we’ve had all year. Now, I’m very mindful of the rules on the Race and would never do anything to jeopardize Tara’s standing, so it was such a blessing when Alexandra and another friend, Mari, said they wanted to help Tara and I get the time. So they gave up their Valentine’s night to “chaperone” us, so we could have something close to one.
These two girls are two that I know will be a big part of Tara’s life, and I loved sitting with them at the table and hearing about their thoughts on love and how Jesus was pursuing them and where he was challenging them to head next. Most guys don’t typically get a Valentines dinner with three incredible women, but I guess I was the lucky one. It was so cool to just hear their heart for others and mostly their families as they prepare for this next season. They don’t want to lose sight of the next few months on the Race, but at the same time, God is giving them clear direction of where to head to next.
One of my favorite things to hear about is how close Alexandra has gotten to my little girl, Rosaly. This little one has become like my little one, but I love it when girls get to step in and play big sister or even momma to her. Alexandra has played that role for Rosaly this month, and I love it. I want to post Alexandra’s words from one of her recent blogs, but to read more from here, go
here. She’s a great writer with a gift, so feel free to follow her for the next three months and as she transitions home…
this is rosalee. she is 6 years old.
she gets her own clothes off the line.
she knows how to give herself a shower [the RiGHT way].
she sweeps and helps mop the floors every day.
she’s wiser than her years.
this month i get to say, “iT’S oKAY”
it’s okay to be a little girl. to play. to sing. to cuddle.
to listen to bed time stories. to feel like the world is small.
today i get to be the heart, hands, and feet of Jesus to this little girl.
it was my first 8-hour shift taking care of the “big girls” here at the orphanage.
i kicked my flip flops off at the door and made my way up the cold cement stairs.
as i reached the top, i found myself nose-to-nose with a little girl.
she had one knee bent, her little fists pressed into her hips, and her lips tightened into a smirk.
before i could even say Hello, she asked me,
“how long are you here for?!”
if she would have asked me that question 8 months ago [when my journey had just began] my answer would have been a quick, “for 8 hours… or until you fall asleep”
but i knew that wasn’t what she wanted to know.
she wanted to know whether or not i was going to be there long enough for her to get attached.
she wanted the freedom to decide if i would be worth the risk of attachment… attachment that typically ends in abandonment.
so i told her the truth. i told her i would be there to sing and dance, cuddle, read her bedtime stories and anytime stories, help her with her chores, and play with her for the next month.
she paused for about 5 seconds, and then leaped off the chair, unannounced, clinging to my neck with all her weight.
she decided that would be the best way to tell me i was worth the risk.
it’s going to be a good month.
[rosalee leading merryjoy and johncarlo through the field!]
