if there is anything I have learned these past few months it's that I don't have much to offer people. I have very little money, I really don't have any practical skills, and my intelligence only goes so far. all I have is love, and thanks to God, I have an abundance.
as I sat there rubbing little Gremma's back my hurt was aching. Gremma is an eleven (ish) year old sreet boy. thiss past Monday he showed up to Child Restoration Outreach higher than a kite on a windy day. he sat across from me and pulled the glue out of his pocket, it was painful to watch. this precious and beautiful child gets high on a regular basis. he does so to stay warm, to try to quiet his hungry stomach, and simply to forget. to forget what his life on the streets is. I didn't know what to do, I wanted to take the glue and tell him how bad it is. how it's destroying his body. I wanted to yell at him for doing something so dangerous. but I couldn't do any of those things. deep down I knew none of those things would help. so I did the only thing I knew how to, I loved him. the two of us shared a chair underneath the mango tree and as he began to crash I rubbed his back. as his tiny body was trying to rest and recooperate from all the damage it was having to deal with on a daily basis, I told him that he was loved. that I loved him. and that God loved him. I started to pray for his tiny little body and his heart that he had shut off from the world. as I was sitting there talking with God I couldn't help but ask why? why is this child hurting this badly? why is this eleven year old boy living on the streets having to fend for himself? why is there any child on the face of this earth so high that they can barely stand up! as I began asking all these things I felt myself getting angry. and then God reminded me that He hurts more. He reminded me that He didn't make those terrible things happen to Gremma and that Gremma is His son. His son whom He loves so dearly. when Gremma began too wake up I looked at him and once again told him that I loved him. He simply turned his face, he didn't even know how to accept the fact that I love him. So I said again, "Gremma, I love you SOOOO much. I am so happy that you came today because I love you." At this he replied, "I think I'm going to go play now." It may not have sunk in, it may not have meant anything to him but it very well may have been the first time that someone looked that litttle boy in the eye and told him that he is loved.
I am not capable of changing the world or even fixing all of Africa's problems but what I can do is love every person I meet with every ounce of my being, with every ounce of love they deserve.
