Sometimes the weight of the world that we see can become the very thing that cuts into our soul. One of our mentors had noticed that one of the 12-year-old children who attend our programs had scars all over his arms. They looked as if someone had lashed him at some point in the past. These wounds were not new, but old hardened scars. The mentor being moved to compassion asked him about them. Very nonchalantly the boy answered, “Oh- those happened when I used to live in Haiti.”
The next day the mentor continued to be moved by the sight of the old wounds. What were these? Although they were far from fresh the mentor filled out an incident report. Family services is called. Was the child cutting themselves? Were they abused here? What exactly happened in Haiti? What makes a child just shrug off scars that go up and down an arm?
For us the heaviness sets in. Why do we have to witness scenarios such as this over and again. Feeling helpless the mentor turned to me at the end of the day and asked, “How have you done this for so long?” I knew that he was asking about my length as a missionary to the inner city. “Jesus.” I answered. “He called me here, so I stay until He tells me to go.”
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:10-12
It is all about administering God’s grace. It is about giving this away. We can get bogged down in the evilness of the world, or we can step up and be the hands and feet of God that He asks us to be.
In the first two weeks of programs another one of our mentors has been pro active and contacted each of the parents of the children in his group of 12. Over and again the response has been the same. “You care? Can you help me?” For some it is as simple as asking that we might come along side and make sure that homework is done at the end of the day. Yet, for most it is becoming, “Will you spend time with me. Will you help me show my child the right way?’ I am overwhelmed by parents who are as weighed down by the heaviness as we are. When we offer service in the strength of Christ then we will begin to really see a changed life… I believe it is a way of asking for help on so many levels.
It has to faithfully doing what the Lord asks us to do. A 13 year old young woman told me last week that there has not been one generation of women in her family who has been married when they had children. They have all been single Moms and mostly teen Moms. Her Mom has asked her to break the cycle. Neither Mom or daughter can accomplish this on their own. They will need Christ to give them power.
Jesus has put me here all of these years to remember that I am not doing it for me. I am not to get sucked into the despair. I am to be faithful in what He has asked me to do. It is so that Christ can be praised. When the city is transformed He will be the one to get the glory….We can get bogged down, or we can be reminded that it can never be our strength that we walk in…
