I remember so clearly going to a gypsy village in Romania on a beautiful Summer day. I had no idea what to expect but I was excited. As the bumpy bus ride eventually brought us to our destination, my heart was instantly broken. I saw extreme poverty, like I had never seen before. Little children completely naked or wearing dirty clothes or rags. Homes made of scrap pieces of plastic and wood. Families so dirty...all the children were barefoot. I was struck by the smiles on their faces. They had absolutely nothing but yet they were so genuinely happy.
How could they be joyful in these kind of circumstances I thought.
We unloaded the bus and a group of us went into the home that we would be performing dental procedures that day. The lady who lived in the house was so excited and proud to show us her house which we were told was the nicest house in the village. As we stepped inside, I tried to hide my shock. This house was a tiny room, dirt floor and only one old piece of furniture. This sweet lady beamed with joy and pride as she gave us a "tour" which lasted about 3 seconds. My heart was absolutely wrecked.
This precious lady's eyes shone with so much hope and so much gratitude they electrified the tiny one room shack. And in that very moment, I was struck. A small voice inside of me whispered, "This is it." THIS is who God calls blessed. The poor and the meek.
In that second, all my accomplishments (however few) my education, my possessions, my "American Dream" were nothing, absolutely nothing in comparison with this woman. God's love filled that room, emanating out of HER.
This woman would be nothing in the world's eyes but in God's eyes she was a treasure.
That day, standing on a dirt floor in a tiny one room shack in Romania, God allowed me to see that she is GREAT in the Kingdom of heaven.
"Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?" James 2:5
<3 Love this to pieces Jessica!!!
ReplyDelete-Rachel Dunn-Rankin