Do you ever feel that you have a ‘job’ besides the job that earns you money? Well, I truly believe in our higher calling. And I do believe that God guides us into places that He can use us. He moves us around, into situations where people actually need Him (not us!). We just need to be like Samuel, and say “here I am Lord” (1 Samuel 3:4). We don’t need to be well qualified, only prepared to make ourselves available. Well, herewith my story of unqualified love…
Today was one of those days where nothing went right for Heather*. With tears rolling down her strawberry red cheeks, she told me how the kids verbally attacked her again during class just because she is different. And how she feels that she will never find a true friend, and how she believes that she will never fit in. She even changed school at the beginning of the year because of the bullying at her old school. While sitting beside her in the shade of a very old tree, she apologised for just walking away from our practical activity without excusing herself, and explained to me what happened that made her cry. Her child heart was broken, and I felt ill-equipped, unsure of what to do to make the pain go away. “The Lord is near to those who are discouraged; He saves those who have lost all hope.” – Psalm 34:18
Whilst sitting there listening to Heather, I silently prayed to God, and asked Him for wisdom. I also asked Him to guide my tongue and my actions. I wanted to draw her closer, not push her away.
Initially I tried to figure out why the other children labelled her. But then I remembered the headlines of a newspaper a couple of months ago, where a normal (and seemingly happy) 13 year old girl from a normal background in a normal neighborhood committed suicide because of bullying at school. And immediately the behavior of the kids from the different schools I interact with played in the back of my mind. There was no need for me to get all technical, and no need to try and figure it out. This is nothing new; it happened a hundred years ago, and it is still happening today – kids get bullied at school for no apparent reason! And no matter how many times I tried to explain the cruelty of the situation to Heather, her heart was shattered because of the way some children treated her.
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” – Ephesians 5:1-2
All I could do, was to apply God’s affection and shower Heather with love. I had to become the light in her darkness. The rock she can rely on. The shoulder to cry on. The ear that is willing to listen. The friend she so longed for. Her feeling of “I belong somewhere”.
We finished our conversation, and she walked me to my car. We hugged, and she thanked me for listening to her story. And this quickly became our weekly routine. She would wait for me, participate with her bubbly personality during class, and then walk me to my car afterwards. So even if she only belongs to a group once a week, at least she belongs somewhere. And I deem myself honored to have the privilege to be part of her life this year, to be able to make a difference and to share my own unqualified love. Our Creator planned for me to become her hope in a situation that felt totally hopeless! And she knows, next week I will be there again.
Our Saviour is faithful, every day, every minute and every second…you just need to listen to His soft whisper! He will never disappoint you, because He is true to His Word. And it doesn’t matter if you are showering someone with unqualified love, or if you are waiting for someone to shower you, just keep on believing!
Love
Yolandi
*Not her real name, to protect her identity.
Whilst sitting there listening to Heather, I silently prayed to God, and asked Him for wisdom. I also asked Him to guide my tongue and my actions. I wanted to draw her closer, not push her away.
Initially I tried to figure out why the other children labelled her. But then I remembered the headlines of a newspaper a couple of months ago, where a normal (and seemingly happy) 13 year old girl from a normal background in a normal neighborhood committed suicide because of bullying at school. And immediately the behavior of the kids from the different schools I interact with played in the back of my mind. There was no need for me to get all technical, and no need to try and figure it out. This is nothing new; it happened a hundred years ago, and it is still happening today – kids get bullied at school for no apparent reason! And no matter how many times I tried to explain the cruelty of the situation to Heather, her heart was shattered because of the way some children treated her.
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” – Ephesians 5:1-2
All I could do, was to apply God’s affection and shower Heather with love. I had to become the light in her darkness. The rock she can rely on. The shoulder to cry on. The ear that is willing to listen. The friend she so longed for. Her feeling of “I belong somewhere”.
We finished our conversation, and she walked me to my car. We hugged, and she thanked me for listening to her story. And this quickly became our weekly routine. She would wait for me, participate with her bubbly personality during class, and then walk me to my car afterwards. So even if she only belongs to a group once a week, at least she belongs somewhere. And I deem myself honored to have the privilege to be part of her life this year, to be able to make a difference and to share my own unqualified love. Our Creator planned for me to become her hope in a situation that felt totally hopeless! And she knows, next week I will be there again.
Our Saviour is faithful, every day, every minute and every second…you just need to listen to His soft whisper! He will never disappoint you, because He is true to His Word. And it doesn’t matter if you are showering someone with unqualified love, or if you are waiting for someone to shower you, just keep on believing!
Love
Yolandi
*Not her real name, to protect her identity.