To several someones in her life, our little girl was an outcast. I've been writing and thinking a lot about loving the unlovable, or those that it isn't easy for us to love. How is it then that for us she is the apple of our eye, the joy of our life, the center of our days.....she makes us full. How can that be that to a system half a world a way she was at one point just a file, a nothing, low and unloved....yet the Lord saw fit to lift her up, put her in our hearts and put her in this family where she is so loved we can't stop pinching ourselves we are so blessed by her in our lives?
Why hasn't he given me those same eyes and that same heart for the person who cuts me off on the road, where is my compassion then, it goes right out the window. Or the person who takes my seat, when I get up only to get a napkin at the food court, or worse the Christian neighbor who doesn't act like either, where is my ability to love with these folks, when it all came so easy for me with our little girl. Why her, why then, why that stranger, and not all the others? What will it take to love every stranger (not like) but love, and eventually maybe one day have a heart of compassion as well.....in this new year, that is my prayer. That I would begin to love and look at each person I come in contact with like I first looked at my Gigi; with compassion and love.
How does this happen? I think going back to my blog last week about the quiet retreat (for women - yes please please try this at your churches you will all be blessed); we ended with the Lords supper. Our Rev. Diane, had us serve each other, and for me although it was kind of funny what happened, Gods learning for me was through to the end. We served each other the elements at the end. As I went to serve the lady to my left, I was so nervous I would give her too much of the wine I didn't even give her any....then nervous I would repeat my mistake I gave her so much she basically choked on the communion wine.....
That is a perfect picture for how I tend to approach strangers, with timidity I tend to not give enough for fear I will overdo...then when its not enough I do too much, and overwhelm. I've come to realize the only way I can extend the love I so want to to that stranger is by meeting Jesus at the table, with his broken body and spilt blood he shows me how to love. He demonstrates for me true love poured out for everyone. This is my real lesson, and maybe just maybe as time goes on, little by little, week by week, as He makes Himself more and more real to me; I will make myself more real to the stranger, the downtrodden, the poor, the unloved, and the unlovable. Its so easy to love the people who are fun and easy to be with, but my goal this year is to be an outstretched hand to the people who I don't understand and who don't understand me.
I look at the picture in this post, and I remember, three years ago exactly this Christmas we brought home a baby who was terrified of dogs, who now rides upon a huge horse commanding it about the arena with sureness and certainty. That my friends is the power of love. Love abounding in a child's life that speaks possibility and life into them. We can be that as the body of Christ and as brothers and sisters for each other.
