Reciprocal Giving

Being a part of something far bigger than myself is transforming every facet of life.

---

I have been heavily reading in 1 John. Last night I watched a video that summarized 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John. I'm one of those people who needs to know the big picture to better understand the details. 1 John was described as a sermon that is to encourage christians who are watching other people who claim Christianity but aren't living it. The letter is meant to keep them from feeling scolded, and to encourage them to remember God's love that is theirs if they live the way He calls us to live. By avoiding the darkness that is sin, we are able to experience the light that is Christ. The layout of the entire book is beautiful, and one thing that resonated most with me was the washing of feet. This isn't as common in our society today. This was an act of sacrificial love and respect that keeps being brought to the forefront through books of the bible I'm finding myself in. To me, it just seemed to be coincidence. Writing this now, I think God was foreshadowing me seeing Him infuse my life with His presence.

Lydia and I have some fun times together. She is a girl after my own heart. When lunch is served, I no longer exist to her and she runs to eat ugali and beans! She spends the entire day outside making games with whatever nature strikes her interest. We chase cats, play our own version of soccer, and cook "vegetables" out of grass, water, and sticks. You can make anything fun if you use your imagination and this chick has a big one. She is incrediblely intelligent and enjoys working through activity/sticker books I brought with me. We play color games and see how many associations with things that are the same color we can find. She is sassy and bright!

One of the things that came in the toy donations were these bath toys. Lydia loves water play, so I knew she would find a way to make a game out of it. Today I put it to the test, and it took a while for it to become organized play. Eventually we found ourselves pouring the water from one boat into the other in a video you can see below. First, I poured mine into hers. She poured the remainder back into mine, and this continued for a few minutes. I couldn't help but realized that this is a picture of what these children are doing to me. Any outpouring of myself gets given back to me in even greater amounts. The excitement in their eyes when they're the one getting special attention is contagious and moving. They deserve every bit of myself, and I need them even more on the hard days.

I am trained into being in constant conversation with God now. Sometimes when everyone around me is speaking Swahili He’s the only one I can talk to. Going into this day, I was feeling pretty beat. My stamina was low and my patience was wearing thin. It's in these times that I am reminded I would be nothing if not for the fruits of the spirit that come freely if I simply ask. With the right mindset and His spirit in me I am able to continue the work I was summoned here for. I cling to verses such as these:

So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience. Colossians 1:10-11

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endures such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3

After this moment with Lydia, I was sitting there in awe of the goodness I'm surrounded by because God has given me eyes to view my circumstances through His lense. We had been playing for quite some time and she notices how muddy her feet have become from the water overflow combined with the dirt. I can tell she wants to dunk her whole foot in the bucket but doesn't want anyone to get mad at her for getting too messy or getting her jeans wet. I go entirely against how I would normally handle this situation, because when in Africa things like being dirty don't matter. I help her roll up her pants and get one foot in the bucket while she maintains her balance sitting in the chair. Seconds into this process I'm now holding back tears because here I am, washing Lydia's feet. Not even 24 hours ago I was being taught the true meaning and biblical symbolism behind this tradition. It's an act of true service and humility; a metaphor that people often refer to when showing respect to fellow man. Instead of a metaphor it had become real life for me in a beautiful, organic way. There was no doubt that Jesus wanted me to get the full picture of what it looks like to have divine appointments with people from all nations. After both of her feet are squeaky clean and dry, she makes it known to me that my own feet are equally as muddy. My feet go into the bucket because she won't have it any other way, and she loves when we mimic each other. As she washes my feet, I am taking mental pictures of this moment and tears are past the point of being held back. To top this all off, there is a key detail about Lydia and I that I have yet to share. Every single bit of our relationship is nonverbal, yet it is one of the purest friendships I've ever had. All that takes place between us is done by motioning and expressions. God is so, so good you guys. I am being blessed by physical representation of His version of love every day, and not even needing the use of speech to hear how much He cares for His children. How lucky are we to be children of Kingdom, no matter how old we truly are!