As I finally surrendered to the process of what God has been trying to teach me about my pride and my deep-rooted habit of pushing help away, I began to see Him showing me what Mercy looks like.
Be Their Father
The child listened to me quietly, and the hardness in his eyes softened a little. When I let go, he simply looked up at me and didn't speak. His face seemed to say, You believe all that - for me?
Hands
Before I knew it, the same mischievous boys who had covered me head to toe in paint were surrounding me, working the hair ties out of my hair, and separating the strands that had begun to stick together in clumps . . . .
The Day I Discovered I’m Not Necessary
And all the while, He's been here, writing a far more colorful array of storylines than my tunnel-vision mind would consider.
He Got His Smile Back
He tapped on my front door while I was in my kitchen supervising the plumber (life on the mission field is REAL, y'all), and even through the blinds on the door I could see him grinning. With all his teeth.
Protected: Being “Madrina”
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Green Paint
It was a Monday, sunny and 80 degrees. Actually, this is unusually nice weather for Monterrey, the desert where we live and serve. On this particular morning, a group of 18-year-olds from a Christian school were along for the ride as we worked to fix up different areas of an orphanage near our campus. The … Continue reading Green Paint
Half-packed Suitcase
"Is it okay to bring this many shoes?" Heavy snow outside has piled up against my parents' house, and darkness has long since fallen. Upstairs, a suitcase sits half-packed on the floor of my childhood bedroom. I'm staring at the suitcase, wondering what else I can safely pack away. My time in Michigan isn't quite … Continue reading Half-packed Suitcase
Querida
They say the longer you know someone, the better you know them. (Unless, of course, you're me, and the "Someone" in question is Jesus.) You'd think I'd know Him better by now, after almost 20 years of calling Him Lord. You'd think I'd be able to at least be able to predict or find patterns … Continue reading Querida
Unmasked.
I walked on the cracked soil (our home is the desert!) and rocky patches of the soccer field at the children's home, praying for the little faces that had just been smiling up into mine as they waved me over to play with them. Praying because they seemed to be perfectly happy and normal children … Continue reading Unmasked.
Rhythms of Courage 