Life Transforming Story #2

It was nearing our last few days and I had become very familiar with the typical outreach routine. Although I was familiar with what the routine generally looked like, I was never certain exactly how it would go. This particular day we headed out to the point where a lot of the street kids were. (The ones that either lived on the street, or lived with family, but were not well taken care of because it was the poorest area of the city)

As we headed out to do a feeding at the point this day, I specifically recall every detail in one of the biggest smiles I have ever seen. This little boy named Juanelle came running at me in full sprint! I could see him from far away running to tackle me! His face was light up with laughter and joy and such excitement that he could hardly run fast enough to get to me! His attention was on nothing else, but getting to me! As soon as our eyes locked I swam through kids to make my way to him. The explosive joy and love that radiated from him sent my heart ablaze with love and excitement to embrace him!

Once he got close enough he launched up towards my arms certain that I would catch him! So fearless I thought! What if I didn’t get my hands free from other kids in time to catch him? Being the adorable fearless kid he was, not catching him was not an option! And from the grip he possessed I could tell that didn’t matter anyway because he had made the decision to latch on with all his might, weather I was ready or not. Holding him I hardly even needed to use my hands! He was snuggled in tight and right where I wanted him to be regardless of my efforts.

He was beaming with joy for quite some time playing with my hair, giggling, and basically climbing all over me. I loved having him enjoy being held by me so much. I had so much love for this child I hardly even knew.

After some time of laughter he seamed to get tired. Within seconds of me noticing his fatigue he nuzzled his head into my neck and shoulder and found all the warmth and peace he needed to fall asleep. MY HEART MELTED!!!! It was so precious! There he was in 100 degree weather, with other kids still jumping all around me and the group, much commotion about where we were going and what we were doing and there he was in perfect peace, asleep in my arms.

God so clearly spoke to me in this moment. He showed me that this is how He wants to treat me. He wants to hold me, comfort me, love me and protect me. He wanted to show me that with Him as my shepherd I lack nothing. He showed me that He wants me to trust Him, He wants me to be all in withholding nothing and to allow him to hold me and love me. Even in the midst of chaos his perfect love cast out all fear and in Him I find my peace and rest. His word for me was this passage;

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.
 He guides me along the right paths
 for his name’s sake. Even though I walk
 through the darkest valley,
 I will fear no evil,
 for you are with me;
 your rod and your staff,
 they comfort me.”

The part that really stood out was, “even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” This boys life felt to me like the darkest valley… such little food, water, shelter, comfort, safety, protection, love… Did he have any of these things? I think there were many days it was questionable if he would get food, or water and that is just physical needs! I know his spiritual needs were severely lacking as well. To me this seemed like the darkest valley one could walk, yet in my arms he found rest for his soul. He trusted me and did not fear any evil that would come because he knew I would look out for him, comfort him and protect him. He knew he was in the safest most loving place he could be… in my arms.

I wanted him to stay in my arms forever and to always trust me! To never leave me! I felt my heart promising love and comfort and all these needs I wanted to meet because of the love I felt for him. God spoke to me saying, “This is how I feel about you! You are not a burden and it is my great joy to love you! …and I have so much love to give!” He has so much he cannot contain it all and it never runs out! Which is exactly how I felt for this boy! I have so much to give and it will never run out! With the lord as my shepherd this is how I should feel everyday of my life, like the child in my arms lying down in green pastures and beside quiet waters having his soul refreshed. No wrong paths to take, no evil to fear because He, God, is with me. A very simple story, but a life transforming moment I will never forget.