The Extraordinary One
God is THE Extraordinary. This Monday morning, I toggled back and forth between praising the One and Only and then falling down in my flesh all over again. Back and forth we went, but The Victorious One pulled me up again, giving me the sweet glorious victory over my negativity, over my pride, giving me the ability to humble myself and apologize to my beloved. He gives us abundant life. The kids and I had a rough morning; we have a family meeting after school. We need a new game plan for the morning and new attitudes in our hearts. Words that uplift, not tear down. John told us this morning that "grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ"; we pray Jesus permeates our beings in the morning, just as the morning sun blazes joy into our hearts, the day suddenly hopeful and full of promise.
Then my One and Only gave me a gift. Here's how it went. I glanced at my calendar this morning and realized that I was helping out with the ESL families this a.m. Christian loves interacting with these precious children from all over the world. His heart of delight and compassion for these kids is contagious.
I quickly settled into a conversation with a woman from Iraq, her 4-yr-old clinging to her leg. They've been here five months. The conversation started with the trivial. Then silence. Then more trivial stuff. More silence. Then the trivial turned coincidental as we discovered we lived near each other, her older attends our old school, her son in our old class! Oh, and she's part Armenian, and I know an Armenian connection in that particular class.
She asked a question about the upcoming fundraiser for the school, and I stupidly asked her if she had played golf (the fundraiser involves golf) in Iraq. She looked at me kindly and patiently explained that when you live in a country of constant war, when you fear for your life, when you cannot send your child to school for fear they will be kidnapped, you think little about fun; it's all about survival. But, yes, she would love to try golf, whatever that is, someday. There are many things to do for fun in America, and she's looking forward to trying them all.
As I probed her about her previous life, she told of the persecution of Christians in Iraq. She told me that she fears for the family she left behind there. Last time she talked to them, they told her of a Christian girl who was burned to death. The Christians have to pretend they are Muslim in public, or they will be killed. Children are kidnapped from families, and the ransom is a thousand dollars, or they are killed. They escaped one night with only the clothes they had on their back and fled to Syria. The two years they spent there were pleasant, with many Christians around them. They filed papers with the UN and were relocated here five months ago.
It's a new life, she said, with many new things to experience. She is grateful that her son attends a good school, he's adjusting well. She's grateful that they do not remember Iraq. The only good thing about Iraq, she said, was the food, but that is all. Her husband started a job today. Her eyes are bright with hope.
I told her I would take her to the park. I can't wait. Thank you, Lord, for opening my eyes and teaching me more about your heart. As my friend agreed, the Lord provided a way for their family to escape; He is their Victorious One too.
Then my One and Only gave me a gift. Here's how it went. I glanced at my calendar this morning and realized that I was helping out with the ESL families this a.m. Christian loves interacting with these precious children from all over the world. His heart of delight and compassion for these kids is contagious.
I quickly settled into a conversation with a woman from Iraq, her 4-yr-old clinging to her leg. They've been here five months. The conversation started with the trivial. Then silence. Then more trivial stuff. More silence. Then the trivial turned coincidental as we discovered we lived near each other, her older attends our old school, her son in our old class! Oh, and she's part Armenian, and I know an Armenian connection in that particular class.
She asked a question about the upcoming fundraiser for the school, and I stupidly asked her if she had played golf (the fundraiser involves golf) in Iraq. She looked at me kindly and patiently explained that when you live in a country of constant war, when you fear for your life, when you cannot send your child to school for fear they will be kidnapped, you think little about fun; it's all about survival. But, yes, she would love to try golf, whatever that is, someday. There are many things to do for fun in America, and she's looking forward to trying them all.
As I probed her about her previous life, she told of the persecution of Christians in Iraq. She told me that she fears for the family she left behind there. Last time she talked to them, they told her of a Christian girl who was burned to death. The Christians have to pretend they are Muslim in public, or they will be killed. Children are kidnapped from families, and the ransom is a thousand dollars, or they are killed. They escaped one night with only the clothes they had on their back and fled to Syria. The two years they spent there were pleasant, with many Christians around them. They filed papers with the UN and were relocated here five months ago.
It's a new life, she said, with many new things to experience. She is grateful that her son attends a good school, he's adjusting well. She's grateful that they do not remember Iraq. The only good thing about Iraq, she said, was the food, but that is all. Her husband started a job today. Her eyes are bright with hope.
I told her I would take her to the park. I can't wait. Thank you, Lord, for opening my eyes and teaching me more about your heart. As my friend agreed, the Lord provided a way for their family to escape; He is their Victorious One too.
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