They Give Their All

It is truly humbling to bring home a gift from Haiti. I have had such a hard time collecting my thoughts to share with you all. I have started and erased about 3 times now. There are no words to describe how blessed I feel by the godly women who take care of the kids at Haiti Lifeline Orphanage. Many of them have entrusted their family members to take care of their own children so that they can be with mine. They give their time, their discipline, their love to no end. 

On any given day during my visit, I would leave Christopher playing near the guesthouse and find myself drawn to the second floor dormitory where there are 3 rooms. The baby room (up to about age 3), preschool-age room and kindergarten-age room. Throughout the day the babies and preschoolers will play in their rooms and the open air walkway between. They LOVE visitors and I find myself sitting down quickly so that 3 children can fit on my legs, 1 in each arm and a couple of girls playing with my hair. They crave smiles and tickles and hugs; they can't get enough hugs! It's such a treasure to love on these sweet babies (so many of them have homes in America and that thrills my soul, too).

I am always greeted with a smile by all the mamas. They may be folding clothes, sweeping the floor, getting bottles ready for the babies, braiding hair, sitting down for a quick break OR my favorite time - they're chatting with each other. They motion for me to pull up a bucket and I listen. What they are talking about, I don't usually know, but they are always willing to include me. Sometimes, we try to talk to each other but we never truly understand what the other is saying.  When the time comes, I stand and give hugs all around. I feel loved and accepted by these women and I would love to know their stories and write them for you all. 

As a thank you, I was able to head up cooking them dinner the night before we left. Suffice it to say, God blessed us all through that time together of thanks. Delva (Christopher's room mama) stood up when they were done eating and through a translator told us that the only gift they had to offer in return was a song and a prayer. It was so amazing to hear them sing in unison and hear her powerful prayer in Creole. As the night came to a close, Emily (the missionary that lives there) told me that Delva had something for me. Delva and Mary (Christopher's other room mama) had spent the day making paper flowers for me. I remember seeing them being made and thinking how beautiful they were. The time and money put into such a sweet gift made me cry. I didn't deserve them. These women deserved more of me than I had offered. They gave me their friendship and a gift. It was hard to accept. I had brought Christmas gifts that they will get in December and my gift felt so small in comparison. 

I was reminded of the verses in Mark of the woman who gave more than all the rich combined because she gave it all. Today, in the season of giving, I am humbled by the most valuable gift I have already received. Nothing will quite compare unless I am willing to give my all.


Mark 12:41-44

The Message (MSG)

^41-44 Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins—a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, “The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all.