There was a writing competition for students from 5 different countries on the topic "Road". I joined the kids while they wrote and thought I'd share some "road thoughts".
Some claim it's long and difficult, with imposing mountains and dark, terrifying valleys, thieves at every turn waiting to capture the unsuspecting and naive; others muddle through, barely noticing the twisting turns and slipery slopes that send them reeling---picking themselves up again, brushing off the dust and morosely continuing on; while those adventuresome few relish the peaks' panoramas, drink in the lush valleys' life and shout for joy at the chance for another day to sing and dance with both the beasts and the butterflies, and soar with the eagles.
Let me hold the hand of the skeptic and shine The Light on his path; whisper words of encouragement to the wistless wanderer, speaking the Words of Life to lift his heavy heart; and let me be bold enough to step out with the daring into the unknown, for knowing Who is there is all that matters.
ceo for the kids
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Friday, December 10, 2004
Orphan stories
We had a little get-together last night at a friend's house. Two of the "kids" from the children's home came; this is the second year we've invited these two particular kids to enjoy a family dinner and give them small gifts for Christmas. B. is struggling quite a bit right now as she tries to "make life work"; she has a job as a hairdresser, has "sort of" moved out of the children's home an in with her boyfriend, but life is a battle as customers are few, bills have to be paid, and building a relationship with someone when you have few if any models in your life of what that actually looks like, only adds to the stresses already present. B. left early, a troubled spirit accompanying her out the door.
L. stayed, and as dad and the kids went upstairs for bath time, my friend K. and I talked to L. about his recent decision not to finish the computer school he is in and instead, study for university entrance exams and apply to the Math department at the University. As we shared with him just how difficult "real life" is, and that he is going to have to work REALLY hard, while at the same time reminding him of how much we love him, his eyes began to well up with tears. L. has no family to speak of. He's 20, and unlike other kids in the home, when he turned 18, he did not get the "large sum of money" most of the other kids get to help them get on their feet and buy a small one or two room flat. He's quite motivated, but obviously scared as well. When I asked him how we could help and encourage him, he broke down sobbing. Through his tears, he said that on days when he feels down or depressed, he just thinks of us and the few others that he knows love him and are "for" him. "When I wanted to quit high school, I just thought about how much that would disappoint you two, and so I stuck with it," he continued, sobbing, shoulders shaking as emotion overcame him. With three of us now bawling, I was struck, once again, by how much of an impact each of us can have on someone's life, sometimes without even realizing it. Yet heartbreak hit again when, on the bus ride home, I asked L. where he will spend Christmas. "In my room, playing my guitar."
I know there are millions around the world, alone and many will spend Christmas alone, just like L. Please remember to pray for them!
ceo for the kids
L. stayed, and as dad and the kids went upstairs for bath time, my friend K. and I talked to L. about his recent decision not to finish the computer school he is in and instead, study for university entrance exams and apply to the Math department at the University. As we shared with him just how difficult "real life" is, and that he is going to have to work REALLY hard, while at the same time reminding him of how much we love him, his eyes began to well up with tears. L. has no family to speak of. He's 20, and unlike other kids in the home, when he turned 18, he did not get the "large sum of money" most of the other kids get to help them get on their feet and buy a small one or two room flat. He's quite motivated, but obviously scared as well. When I asked him how we could help and encourage him, he broke down sobbing. Through his tears, he said that on days when he feels down or depressed, he just thinks of us and the few others that he knows love him and are "for" him. "When I wanted to quit high school, I just thought about how much that would disappoint you two, and so I stuck with it," he continued, sobbing, shoulders shaking as emotion overcame him. With three of us now bawling, I was struck, once again, by how much of an impact each of us can have on someone's life, sometimes without even realizing it. Yet heartbreak hit again when, on the bus ride home, I asked L. where he will spend Christmas. "In my room, playing my guitar."
I know there are millions around the world, alone and many will spend Christmas alone, just like L. Please remember to pray for them!
ceo for the kids
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Santa Claus and Christmas
ceo for the kids
Here in Hungary, and I believe in most of europe, Santa Claus has already come!!! December 6th is known here as "Mikulas", or Santa Claus day, and on the 5th of December, all the little boys and girls clean their boots and put them in the window sill. Santa comes during the night and fills them with chocolates and other candies, as well as fruits and nuts sometimes. The "naughty" children receive switches, but most of my students who have received these say they got them only as a joke. On the morning of December 6th, the children are thrilled to find that indeed Santa has come and filled their clean boots with goodies. I believe there are a few things to glean from this tradition.
First, for me it is wonderful that Santa and Jesus come on different days. Here, the baby Jesus delivers the gifts on the evening of December 24th, not Santa. It's refreshing that the focus is on Jesus and NOT on Santa on the 24th, even though most of my students say they are "not religious" and don't celebrated the religious aspect of the holiday.
Second, the cleaning of the boots. If a child has dirty boots, he won't receive the sweets....there is real work involved. However, for me this points directly to the Truth that Jesus has done the "cleaning" in our lives through His death on the cross. We are holy vessels by His grace and mercy, ready to receive all the sweetness that the Lord wants to pour into our hearts. Yet we too have a responsibility to care for this temple which God has given us, and this Christmas, I pray that we all prepare Him room, just as the children here prepare their boots, to receive the wonderful gifts that the Lord wishes to give us from His amazing abundance.
Here in Hungary, and I believe in most of europe, Santa Claus has already come!!! December 6th is known here as "Mikulas", or Santa Claus day, and on the 5th of December, all the little boys and girls clean their boots and put them in the window sill. Santa comes during the night and fills them with chocolates and other candies, as well as fruits and nuts sometimes. The "naughty" children receive switches, but most of my students who have received these say they got them only as a joke. On the morning of December 6th, the children are thrilled to find that indeed Santa has come and filled their clean boots with goodies. I believe there are a few things to glean from this tradition.
First, for me it is wonderful that Santa and Jesus come on different days. Here, the baby Jesus delivers the gifts on the evening of December 24th, not Santa. It's refreshing that the focus is on Jesus and NOT on Santa on the 24th, even though most of my students say they are "not religious" and don't celebrated the religious aspect of the holiday.
Second, the cleaning of the boots. If a child has dirty boots, he won't receive the sweets....there is real work involved. However, for me this points directly to the Truth that Jesus has done the "cleaning" in our lives through His death on the cross. We are holy vessels by His grace and mercy, ready to receive all the sweetness that the Lord wants to pour into our hearts. Yet we too have a responsibility to care for this temple which God has given us, and this Christmas, I pray that we all prepare Him room, just as the children here prepare their boots, to receive the wonderful gifts that the Lord wishes to give us from His amazing abundance.
Sunday, December 05, 2004
God's ways are higher than ours!
ceo for the kids
Over the course of the past 3 days, I have received an important lesson in the Truth that God's ways are much, much higher than ours. Thursday I had a "sad" conversation with a young lady there who has become a dear friend. She is just about the only kid in the home who is a Christian. She told me that she will no longer be coming to church, and she is giving up reading the Bible and praying. "In the last 4-5 months, I've read and prayed and gone to church, but things in my life have only gotten worse. God has not answered any of my prayers and my life, every part of it, is falling apart." All I could do was sit and listen.....partially because my Hungarian is still at such a level that I cannot carry on deep theological conversations with people in Hungarian. Thursday was a wake-up call for me. Here is this young lady, who was so hungry to know God and grow, and yet I did not prioritize time with her, I did not learn Hungarian well enough to help her work through her issues/doubts, etc. My heart was breaking Thursday night.
Then today, I received a text message on my mobile phone that a boy named Laci from the children's home would meet me in front of the Burger King to go to church!!! I was so happy to see him there.....I secretly wondered what people would think of this kid with two ears full of earrings and a piercing in his lower lip. He really enjoyed church and is excited to come again! He's also excited about the free English lessons the church is offering on Monday evenings! He also came to a worship service/concert tonight at another church and seemed to enjoy it. He wants to turn his life around and realizes that now is the time!
In my discouragement over my friend M. walking away from the Lord, God chose to show me that HE is the one who is doing the work, NOT ME! HE is the one who is in control! HE is the one who loves these kids at the children's home even more than I could ever imagine! HE is the one who will hold each one in His hand! I'm humbled and encouraged to realize once again that His ways are indeed higher than mine, and both M. and Laci are in the Lord's hands, and I need not worry, but rather be faithful to loving Jesus and loving these kids as the Lord shows me!
Over the course of the past 3 days, I have received an important lesson in the Truth that God's ways are much, much higher than ours. Thursday I had a "sad" conversation with a young lady there who has become a dear friend. She is just about the only kid in the home who is a Christian. She told me that she will no longer be coming to church, and she is giving up reading the Bible and praying. "In the last 4-5 months, I've read and prayed and gone to church, but things in my life have only gotten worse. God has not answered any of my prayers and my life, every part of it, is falling apart." All I could do was sit and listen.....partially because my Hungarian is still at such a level that I cannot carry on deep theological conversations with people in Hungarian. Thursday was a wake-up call for me. Here is this young lady, who was so hungry to know God and grow, and yet I did not prioritize time with her, I did not learn Hungarian well enough to help her work through her issues/doubts, etc. My heart was breaking Thursday night.
Then today, I received a text message on my mobile phone that a boy named Laci from the children's home would meet me in front of the Burger King to go to church!!! I was so happy to see him there.....I secretly wondered what people would think of this kid with two ears full of earrings and a piercing in his lower lip. He really enjoyed church and is excited to come again! He's also excited about the free English lessons the church is offering on Monday evenings! He also came to a worship service/concert tonight at another church and seemed to enjoy it. He wants to turn his life around and realizes that now is the time!
In my discouragement over my friend M. walking away from the Lord, God chose to show me that HE is the one who is doing the work, NOT ME! HE is the one who is in control! HE is the one who loves these kids at the children's home even more than I could ever imagine! HE is the one who will hold each one in His hand! I'm humbled and encouraged to realize once again that His ways are indeed higher than mine, and both M. and Laci are in the Lord's hands, and I need not worry, but rather be faithful to loving Jesus and loving these kids as the Lord shows me!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)