Five Minute Friday: Compassion Wide

God, how is it that you’ve thrown my heart wide open for this young girl who lives on the other side of the world–in Kenya.

This country, you created a love for it while I was still a child. I don’t quite get that. Out of all the places in the world–Kenya? Will I ever see its sights, hear its sounds, smell its smells?

I try to envision what she’s doing at this moment now that the sun has set for the day. I think of her gazing at the same moon that I will later tonight, and somehow I feel closer.

I wish I could stretch clear around the earth’s curve and pull her close, tell her with my voice how precious she is, how beautiful. Could you do that for me, God? Help her feel my love, help her sense my arms around her?

Oh, that I could touch her skin-to-skin, cradle her cheeks between my palms, explain the love that pierced your palms.

I crush her letter to my face and breathe in deep, as if inhaling her. She touched this. Her handprints are on these words.

God, she is your handprint. Hold her by your hand. Pry wide her heart to inhale all that you are. Help her see with your eyes, hear with your ears, touch with your hands. Fill her with your compassion.

Be her light so she can be a light.

Is she smiling, God? Does she weep? Be her joy. Be her comfort. Crush her with a reckless love. Let her seep your fragrance.

And forgive me for not loving her enough.

Amen.

Won’t you open wide your heart today and help shine hope into just one child’s heart?

Here are a couple September children to consider.

Laura turned five years old yesterday, and still she waits. She lives in an area with a higher risk of exploitation and abuse. (This link also takes you to a video of Michael W. Smith in Kenya.)

Daniel turned eleven last week. He’s been waiting 205 days for a sponsor. Maybe that sponsor is you.

Maybe you could click over and “meet” them, pray for them?  And/or click here to see others who need chains broken. Thank you.