This past week we held open-air crusades in the town of Ojamii. Most of the attendees were children, about 150. My favorite was a little girl who was about 3 years old. The African worship music would start playing and she would dance, with a very serious face. The first day she didn't crack a smile but she did hold my hand, so we could dance kind of together. The second day, she was holding a dirty teddy bear, and wearing a dirty little dress. I was sitting down in a chair and I called her over. She came with her dirty little bear and sat on my lap. She actually smiled when I pretended to pinch her cheeks. She had the most adorable smile to match her adorable little face. The third day, she wouldn't smile, but she let me pick her up, and she let me hold her while I danced. My heart was melting : ) I felt something warm and wondered if she was peeing on me, but thought I was just paranoid. After about 3 songs, I was worn out and so was she. I put her down and yep….she had peed. I was so enamored by her….I didn't even care!! Hahaha! She raised her arms for me to pick her up and how could I resist…I picked her up without hesitation. Her beauty is embedded in my heart, and I am kind of sad the crusades are over.
This made me think….this is how our Father in Heaven looks at us. I didn't even catch her name, but He knows ours even before we are born. We are dirty, we wear filthy rags, we hold dirty stuffed animals, and all He sees is beauty. All He sees is His precious baby girl/boy. All He feels, is His heart melting within Him, especially when we lift our hands to Him and go to Him. We sin and defile His clothes, and He doesn't care! He picks us up again and again, because He can't say "no" when we look into His eyes. We are embedded in His heart.
You are accepted, you are chosen, and you are loved unconditionally by God.
