“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40
Today we spent time visiting 3 girls in our program. I was a little nervous to see them at first. I didn’t know what to say or what to ask. I couldn’t tell them I would fix their situation or even make it better for now. I wanted to bring them answers and the help they so desperately needed but instead I brought
juice.
Seriously?! Juice!
The idea behind it was good, but it seemed so ridiculous given their
circumstances and living conditions. It is custom in Rwanda to bring something
small when you visit someone’s home. We chose juice concentrate because it would make a good amount of juice over time, and it would at least provide some vitamins and nutrients to make their hunger seem a little less on the days they were unable to feed their children or themselves.
Even though this seemed insignificant to me, when we got there, the joy
that you could see shining out of them was enough. The light they had in their
eyes because someone just showed up for them was enough. Entering
into their pain, hearing their stories and hardships, showing them the love of
our amazing God was enough. Knowing they were not forgotten or abandoned was enough.
So my human and American way of thinking was that I wanted to have the answers, and I could fix this for them. This was self-serving and prideful. God doesn’t choose us because of who we are, but in spite of who we are. So he didn’t choose me because he thought I could be the one to make the difference for these girls. The only answer to fixing the evil in this world is Jesus. Only Jesus can shine a light into the darkness. Only Jesus can make an eternal difference.
Me, I can just choose to show up, to be a part of showing Gods love to the ‘least of these’. We are all the ‘least of these’. We are all the same people who need the same things. Food, water, air, shelter, love, and Jesus. So why wouldn’t I choose to help those that are the same as me? Why wouldn’t I choose to give whatever help I could to those that need it? Even when it’s “hard” or it “hurts” to give up my time or my possessions. I think if we all did that, everyone would have enough.
juice.
Seriously?! Juice!
The idea behind it was good, but it seemed so ridiculous given their
circumstances and living conditions. It is custom in Rwanda to bring something
small when you visit someone’s home. We chose juice concentrate because it would make a good amount of juice over time, and it would at least provide some vitamins and nutrients to make their hunger seem a little less on the days they were unable to feed their children or themselves.
Even though this seemed insignificant to me, when we got there, the joy
that you could see shining out of them was enough. The light they had in their
eyes because someone just showed up for them was enough. Entering
into their pain, hearing their stories and hardships, showing them the love of
our amazing God was enough. Knowing they were not forgotten or abandoned was enough.
So my human and American way of thinking was that I wanted to have the answers, and I could fix this for them. This was self-serving and prideful. God doesn’t choose us because of who we are, but in spite of who we are. So he didn’t choose me because he thought I could be the one to make the difference for these girls. The only answer to fixing the evil in this world is Jesus. Only Jesus can shine a light into the darkness. Only Jesus can make an eternal difference.
Me, I can just choose to show up, to be a part of showing Gods love to the ‘least of these’. We are all the ‘least of these’. We are all the same people who need the same things. Food, water, air, shelter, love, and Jesus. So why wouldn’t I choose to help those that are the same as me? Why wouldn’t I choose to give whatever help I could to those that need it? Even when it’s “hard” or it “hurts” to give up my time or my possessions. I think if we all did that, everyone would have enough.