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I used to think it was the great work to hold onto these
kids with the desire to never let go. It was in those moments I could hold on
tight while praying over them, their families, and their circumstances. I’d
cherish these moments.
This moment was different though. Before I got the chance to
begin to pray, before I was able to whisper something beautiful over her, Mama
Scovia called little Jovan away. She looked my way with an innocent smile and
waved to me. She was gone before I knew it, on her way over to Sunday school
with her older sister. My moment was over. Jovan was with me for just a few
minutes. We smiled together and ate a sweetie (candy) and cleaned each other’s
hands with sanitizer. And just when our moment was over, as she ran over to her
mum, I was reminded that the act of holding must be an act of release.
I think that’s the way of this world – the part I have
trouble with. We cherish what we must somehow release.
I wanted to hold on to little Jovan forever. I want to hold
on to God’s children and love His people to the best of my ability. After all,
God has given me this desire, right?
I used to think it was the great work to do this, until I
realized there’s a greater
work—seeing it through God’s view. It’s one thing to be able to hold people secure
in your arms, in your heart, and in your thoughts about them and never wanting
to let that go. But the reality is that we must.
God loves us. He loves us to no end. He released His Son
into a desperate world. I think about the cross, and how in that moment of
Christ sacrificing Himself, He was releasing us from the embrace of the world
into the embrace of God.
There’s a connection, I think, with an offering and the
release.
What I mean is that if we hold these things, these moments,
too tightly, we can’t make the gesture of offering. In doing this, we can’t do
the greater work. The work of loving so deeply and securely that we actually
release our hold on what it is that we love so much. By holding onto something
too closely, we lose the opportunity to see it as a gift, which I believe
actually hinders us from being able to offer praise back to the Giver.
If we hold onto something too closely, we miss the greater work of love.
“Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice
of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.”
–Hebrews 13:15
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| followthenicki.com Nicki in Uganda, 2013 |
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| followthenicki.com Nicki in Uganda, 2013 // There's little Jati! read about Jati HERE |
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| followthenicki.com Nicki in Uganda, 2013 |
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| followthenicki.com Nicki in Uganda, 2013 |
and read Nicki's chronicles during her stay in Uganda
