As most of you blog-readers already know, our team in Lira, Uganda, has been going to an HIV/AIDS support group on Friday afternoons. It’s made up of about 50-ish women who love the Lord and are living with HIV/AIDS.
The last time we were there, Jenny and Beth did some teaching, we sang a song, and then in return, they sang a song and danced for us. The song and dance they performed was one of the happiest expressions of joy I’ve ever heard/seen. I, along with most of our team, assumed it translated to some sort of praise/worship song sung to our Creator. After the song, though, they announced that it was not a song of adoration to the King, but rather a song about living with HIV/AIDS. It is shocking to me that these women can take living with one of the most shamed and shunned diseases of our time, and turn it into a song and dance in which they literally yell with joy.
Maybe this week, we should all take a little joy from something that we have considered to be a hardship or burden. Maybe being unemployed is giving you more time to spend with your family. Maybe your crappy financial situation is forcing you to rely on God. Maybe your annoying friend is making you understand more how patient the Lord is with you. Don’t sing a song of self-pity, but rather a song of thankfulness and joy to be living in the kingdom of heaven, and to be bringing a little more of it down to Earth.
Love you all!
Emily 🙂
