Seems we have
"weathered the storm" that we faced two weeks ago. Oh we still have our
"situations", but nothing in comparison to the trials of that one
week.
Yet, when I look
at what the Haitian people face daily, in comparison to what we face
daily, we do have a life of a lot more ease than they do. It all comes
down to who we are, where we are and how we respond, doesn't it? I've
seen Haitians who have a walk each and every day in great need... need
of food, a place to live, a way to care for their family.... but they
have a peace, a joy that many who "have" don't show. It all comes down
to GRACE.... God's grace. God's peace. And totally God's presence in
their lives.
We have a woman
and her daughter who help us out at different times. They have
nothing. Fight to simply survive. They never ask us for anything, but
check on us to make sure we don't need anything. The momma comes and
irons clothes when I call her. They both come and clean the dorm when
we have teams coming. And this is pretty much all they have. Yes, Don
pays them well when we call them to help us, but that isn't the total
picture. They will stop in and offer to wash floors or do dishes,
whatever. If I say sorry, but we have no money... they laugh and say,
"no, you didn't call us to work, we just want to help you, no pay." And
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, they are smiling and happy. They praise God they are
alive and have each other. I have heard they help some "poor" Haitian
families who are suffering. They will sit with someone who is sick and
help out. They will watch a child when needed... all without pay. But
then people they are not involved with see this, and find a way to help
them out, too. They show God's gift of giving to others, and God finds
ways to help them through people who SEE what they do.
This is only one
example. But I often wonder how people see US. Are they seeing a
loving, giving God in how we live and how we react to things? I pray
they are. But I also know we are mortal creatures and have many
faults. I pray they see God in us in what we do, and that they not
center on our faults.
At the airport, I
have tried to be the type of person God would expect me to be. I try to
treat all there as equals and smile and great everyone. And I enjoy
the fact that it seems everyone knows my name and smiles at me. The
head of security and one of the top officials in the office were talking
to me yesterday. One of them said, we (the airport) need to give you a
plaque. I asked why, because I'm the oldest person here? He said no,
because you always make everyone happy. I don't do that for praise at
all. I simply know most of these people have nothing to be happy about,
and I want to see them smile. The same at the store here, or wherever I
go. I know they all have so many problems, you can see it in their
eyes. Yet a smile brightens their day. Yes, maybe only for a few
minutes, but it is something to make them smile. I know when I'm having
a rough time and someone makes me smile, it brightens my day.
I think it's like
that...statement, or movie, or wherever I've heard it.... "PLAY IT
FORWARD!" Share with others...no matter what it is, a smile, a dollar, a
bit of bread, or more importantly, God's Love and Grace. God gave me a
lift through someone else, the least I can do is to share with someone
else that same way. I really like the idea of "playing it forward" and
creating a giving society. Giving and sharing God's love with others in
whatever way He would have us do it.
That is a
challenge for you today. Can YOU play it forward? Can you share with
others as others have shared with you? Be it a smile to someone who
looks down, a tip for your waitress that she doesn't expect, a pat on
the back for someone who has done a good job, a hug for someone
hurting.... you look and think how God would have YOU play it forward.
But do it in God's love and grace.
Are you up for
that challenge? When you do it, God also gives you something, you
know. He gives you the knowledge that you have lifted up someone in
need, no matter what the need. I know a few people back home who do
that a lot. And I praise God that they are the example of what He does
in them for others.
