We’re called to love our neighbors. But that isn’t always easy. What if we don’t know our neighbors, or we’re not sure how to start? Who are our neighbors, and how do we love well? (in)courage exists as an online community committed to making safe spaces for women to connect over topics just like this one. Every Wednesday this month we’ll be sharing some of our stories about discovering how to love our neighbors. We hope you’ll read along and then join us in a weekly Community Challenge geared toward discovering who God is calling us to love and some practical steps we can do together.
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We walk through the door of a Compassion International center in the Dominican Republic and are quickly surrounded by a group of enthusiastic kids. In place of loud chatter and giggles, their hands fly as they welcome us. They use sign language to say, “We’re so glad you’re here. We feel special that you came.” Then they begin to teach us the phrases they think matter most — including, “I love you.”
The children are part of a program for deaf and mute children. Some of their classmates can hear, as well as speak, so they share their hearts with us in their own ways too. In Spanish they exclaim, “Te amo” (I love you) with grins on their faces and outstretched arms.
Later in the day I’m invited to sit on the porch of a local family who has experienced deep tragedy. Smiles are harder to find. The mother and father were killed in a motorcycle accident, leaving four children behind. The grandparents have stepped in to raise them.
Compassion has been their lifeline. Two of the boys are deaf and have been able to join the Compassion program and school — the only school for deaf children in the entire country.
When we get up to leave, I give the grandmother a You’re So Very Loved necklace {the one you’ll also get if you sponsor a child}. I point to the heart hanging from my neck as well. Through the translator I say, “See, I have one too. And when I wear it I will think of your family and pray for you. Because we love you.”
In Spanish.
Through sign language.
By sharing a simple gift.
Love has endless ways of being expressed.
And the more time I spend with Compassion, the more I realize this is really the heart of what they do. Yes, they meet needs in all four areas of a child’s life — spiritual, physical, emotional/social, and cognitive. But all of it really comes down to what Jesus said matters most:
‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ {Matthew 22:37-39}
We all have the same mission: love. And yet, how we fulfill this mission varies with each one of us. God will use your strengths, skills, gifts, experiences, and resources to touch the lives of others in ways only you can.
Today I met a tutor who has quietly and faithfully helped deaf children for twenty-four years.
I watched a grandmother’s protective love wrap like a blanket around her family, even in the middle of her own grief.
I saw love in dozens of small eyes who welcomed us into their world.
And if I stepped into your life today, I’d see you love in your own wonderful ways too.
We can come to God every day and ask: “How do You want to say ‘I Love You’ through me?”
It’s a question that brings God joy to answer. Because wherever you are and whoever you’re with, there will always be a new way to say “I love you.”
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One way you can say “I love you” is by sponsoring a child through Compassion International. After talking with sponsored children and their families, I can assure you the $1.27 a day you give is about so much more than resources and opportunities. It’s about expressing God’s love to those who can feel overlooked in this world and saying: “I see you. You matter. There is hope and a future for you.”
Here’s a fun idea too: You could sponsor a child in honor or memory of someone special. Marilyn left a comment on yesterday’s post saying that’s what she did and I thought it was such a wonderful idea! You could even give the free Lisa Leonard necklace you’ll receive as a gift to that person — yet another way to say “I love you.”
Super-Exciting Update: As I’m writing this, 43 children have now been sponsored through the Dominican Republic Compassion Bloggers! Each one will hear “I love you” in their lives in so many new ways because of you. You can see all of them here. Thank you!
Read more posts from my fellow travelers on this trip: Bonnie Gray, Bri McKoy, Lisa Leonard, and Ruth Soukup.
first three photos by Compassion, all others by Bri McKoy
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Catch the rest of the series — The Courage to Love Our Neighbors — here:
I love Compassion International so much. I have been sponsoring a child for several years now and wish I had the resources to sponsor many many more. It’s awesome when new sponsors step up to help our “neighbors” in other countries…. Thanks for reminding us of what Compassion is all about!
Thank you, Brenda! I’m so glad you’re already a sponsor!
Holly: we have five sponsor children, but know nothing of these necklaces…maybe not the right info being shared?
Stella, the necklaces are only for those who sponsor during this week’s blogger trip to the Dominican Republic. I’m so glad you’re already sponsoring five children! How wonderful!
Amen, Bev! Beautifully said!
That’s awesome! We decided to sponsor a child for each child we have – God has given us the gift of kids, and the ability to care for them ourselves, so it just seems right. I can’t wait until our littles are old enough to understand the pictures we pray over while we make dinner, and to help write letters!
That’s so wonderful, Sarah Jo! Thank you for inviting these children into your family!
Holley,
It amazes me how much we Americans take for granted. People in other countries are content with less–much less and happy to receive just about anything.
I’ve seen the magic of sponsoring a young girl from Ninos De Mexico, an orphanage in Mexico. She gets thrilled just getting a new pair of boots. We as sponsors pray for her and were thrilled when she got baptized.
I pray more children can get adopted. It is a fulfilling thing to have a child you can help out and show Christ’s love to!
The girl you sponsor in Mexico is so blessed to have you, Beth! And I’m sure you feel the same way about her! XO
Yes. I love helping people out. Just wish I had tons of money to help out a number of friends and family! Would love to be a servant of God and not have to work for money!
Such a special ministry! We love getting letters from our child- so precious for our children at home to participate as well.
And the letters you send to your child mean more than you can even imagine. In every home we’ve visited here to the letters are one of the family’s most treasured possessions!
Thank you so much for this encouraging post. You encouraged me to get our half-finished letter off to our Compassion-sponsored little girl, Justine. My four-year old daughter writes to her with my help, as they’re the same age (only three days apart). I pray it blesses her and her family. I hope one day we will be able to sponsor others as well.