Hello morning,
Extend my arms to feel the covering of my mosquito net, resting on the living room floor. With no mirror and little makeup I strive towards a life free from vanity; yet ecstatic I get when I can catch a glimpse in a reflective window. No comfort of a toilet or a shower, working with a hole and a bucket.
Walking miles each day to reach my location; ready to take my morning tea. Today I heard the cries of a child; getting beaten through the walls of his school. I cringe at the thought that it may be my dear boy Felix.
At the hospital I see rows of people suffering from pains easily cured at home. They welcome me with open arms and a heart yearning to receive prayer. As tears swell in my eyes I am comforted by the smiles of the sick. I enter with the goal of extending my love to them and leave blessed with their presence.
Red dirt between my toes and a bumpy ride later I have reached my next location; an orphanage for special needs children. Humbly I sit in a classroom; being taught by children with an education much less than mine. They show me how to speak words with my hands and instantly call me their friend; when all I have done is simply shown up. The look in their eyes and the warmth in their smiles; not a lesson that can be taught.
I see my dear boy Felix, slumped and without a smile. The light was dulled by what could only be a beating. I walk over to the tiny hut and rest my hand on his shoulder; telling him I love him for the first time. He nods in understanding but is unable to look towards me.
I sit listening to the way God speaks, the miraculous things he has done in the lives of others. I praise the way He has been so evident but frustrated that all the hardships of this day can not be erased. I say a silent prayer for understanding and receive peace instead; the mystery of His plan makes me seek him more.
“Kim…Kim…Kim” Felix has returned with a smile across his face and a ball in hand. We kick and throw the ball and he places a flower in my hair.
I finish the day singing songs in the rain; with the thunder being the only instrument. I embrace each chilly drop by using it as a form of familiar shower.
Returning home after a day of exhaustion; of the physical, emotional, and spiritual. How can I be anything less than thankful? How can I be anything less than joyful? I see these people dancing through the tribulations of life and resisting a bitter heart. So many times I sit in the complacency of my life without rejoicing in each moment. The brokenness pains me to see but I am being taught to see fruit in every situation. Questions remain but not of the one that writes the story.
“My flesh may fail, but His spirits strong in me.”
Tonight I rest under a glorious mosquito net. Thankful for the simple and the difficult; each teaching me a different form of praise.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:4-7
