By noon Friday, I felt it should have been 9pm. Within two hours of our daughter’s birthday party, our adventuresome dog decided to bolt from the house. Then, I couldn’t find my military ID {a major inconvenience especially since my daughter’s birthday party was at the base pool, not to mention losing one’s military ID is practically a cardinal sin}. Then, I realized I’d given wrong directions to two moms attending the party. Super wrong directions.
I could see my too-tired, trying-to-keep-it-together person cracking.
Then, on the way out the door to the party, our daughter coaxed the dog home. I located my ID in a coat pocket. Eventually, the moms found the party location.
Sometimes, amazing grace is a few wrongs becoming right just in time. In three mini miracles, God placed grace spackle in my cracks and smoothed all my crazy edges just in time for a relaxed, easy-breezy birthday party.
Here’s one way God shows our family how to place His grace spackle on the cracks of others, of those enduring much more than a missing dog or ID. The work required on our end is minimal and temporal, but God throws His grace all over it and turns that kingdom investment into something eternal. By sponsoring children through Compassion International, God uses folks like you and me to fill the cracks formed from all kinds of poverty: social, economic, physical and spiritual.
Our family has sent checks, food, and clothing donations to various charities, and we’ll send more in the future, too. Giving is giving and God blesses it. But it’s the personal involvement in a specific child’s life that gets our family giddy. It’s praying for our children, our Lucilia and Felipe, that moves our hearts and souls more. It’s reading their words of prayers for us that humbles and encourages us richly. Our heart fissures heal when those we intend to bless turn around and bless us right back. And all this is exactly what sponsoring a child through Compassion provides.
On Friday, Compassion is sending five fantastic bloggers to the Philippines so we may see through their words the world of those Compassion supports come to life. If you would like to see the heart and soul of an organization who moves vibrantly for Jesus, follow Emily, Kat, Tsh, Stephanie and Lindsay from May 27th through June 4th as they become His hands and feet.
Without a doubt, their participation will turn any kind of brochure description into a life depiction. And without a doubt, you’ll feel the cracks and fissures of your life smoothed with grace.
Man, I love this!! So true! We sponsor 2 children and love it! WE cherish those sweet letters! And we hosted 2 little Ugandan girls back in Feb. for a short stay and it was one of the greatest blessings our family has or ever will have! I would love to hear all about their journey. It is my dream to one day be able to do just what they are doing. Going to a different country to love on some precious children!
Man, it’s like Christmas around here when we get those letters! We are trying to be better about writing them more often, too. It is so worth it!
So thankful for His grace…I’m desperately in need.
It makes me giddy to do a Google blog search and find SO many bloggers talking about Compassion! I love the organization, our amazing Compassion kids and blogging to share ideas and inspiration for sponsors. I’ve followed the last two trips to Kenya and Guatemala and cry my eyes out but end up being changed in ways I never imagined. I look forward to reading the upcoming posts!