Years ago I went to the park with my little girls armed with plenty of snacks, lunch, and drinks. Wet wipes for dirty, chubby fingers and anything that they would need in the span of a few hours. A little girl all by herself made her way to our picnic table, beautiful and dirty with tattered clothes and an empty belly.
Instead of sitting next to my girls, she placed her little body right next to mine. Her blue eyes pierced through me as she said, “Do you have something for me?”
In a place scattered with Moms, she came to me asking one thing and hoping that I would have it.
“Do you have something for me?”
I fed her and gave her extra. I loved her for what seemed like minutes as I scanned the park wondering if anyone was missing her.
“Whom does she belong to?” Echoed in my over-protective mothers heart.
I watched her eat and enjoyed her closeness until a teenage dad placed her on the back of his bike and rode off with her. I watched her with an ache in my heart and an answer.
“She belongs to me.” God whispered.
I haven’t thought about her in years, blonde ringlets and adorable, dirty face, eyes that sparkled with questions, her need for closeness, her need for something to sustain.
Yet I feel the world asking, looking to us with empty eyes and hearts…do you have something for me? And I weep as I think how the enemy uses our self-centeredness as his most useful tool when we have the answer. When the world looks to us with starving hearts and questions wondering if they are loved and if they belong will we be too busy, to self-absorbed to answer?
Beautiful, Stained Soul,
Just in case you have showed up here wondering…you belong to God. He has something for you, something that will sustain your troubled heart. He wrapped Himself up in death to purchase your pardon. It’s a gift, but you have to receive it and open your heart to Him and invite Jesus in.
Beautiful, Distracted Heart,
It’s not about you, but you have forgotten that. It’s not about us. We are unsatisfied and unfulfilled because our eyes point to ourselves. God help us to wake up and take our eyes off ourselves long enough to answer…Yes, we have something for you! Yes, you belong.
In a world filled with distractions, we must believe that we are never a distraction to our Maker. But, He longs to use us in ways we’ve never dreamed possible. God longs to turn a light on in our hearts and shift our focus off of ourselves towards Him. Then His love causes our focus outward to those with stained hearts who need to know the truth.
The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matt 25:40)
I pray that my eyes would be open to the brokeness of this world! I don’t want to wake up to realize I lived my life only focused on me. Thanks for sharing such a sweet, heart-breaking story.
Thank you for sharing this touching story. I’ve had such a hard time getting into the “Christmas Spirit” this year and your post really opened my eyes and helped me to understand why. Thank you for this, it was exactly what I needed to read this morning.
Merry Christmas
Warms my heart, thank you for your kind words! I just can’t do “normal” this Christmas year. Thanks for taking the time comment. Have a Merry Christmas Jennifer and Lindsey…God is going to use you & that makes me all kinds of happy!
WOW! beautiful.
What a lovely, heart-wrenching story. Being open to those opportunities brings blessings all around. Now I’ll spend the rest of the day wondering what happened to that little girl. Thanks for the inspiration. dc
Dee, I still remember every detail of her face! I’m praying she is loved, warm, and well fed. Blessings on you…you are so right! God gives us blessings in abundance when we share His heart!
My heart breaks for those who are less fortunate. Am I too busy to notice those who are asking me these same questions? Am I letting “life” get in the way? This post today went straight to the depths of my heart and pulled out things I hadn’t ever thought about myself. Thank you for sharing this story and your heart. Thank you for being obedient to God in writing this. It has touched me deeply today. I have emailed a link to this post to everyone of my prayer sisters (and my hubby, of course!). You are right on! Thank you so much again for sharing. Have a wonderful Christmas!
Amy, thank you for commenting and sharing this with your sisters & your hubby. It made my day and makes me cry at the same time! God is going to use you…I’m so guilty of being to busy as well. But, this year I’m completely wrecked for Jesus. Wrecked is good, messy, and beautiful all at the same time! Have a very Merry Christmas! Blessings!
Jennifer your post and pictures are very convicting which seems to be what is missing so often today. I too am going to post this on my fb for others to read and then ask God to open my eyes to someone we can help. I don’t think I will have to look far.
Thank you my courageous wreaked for Jesus sister in the Lord. Merry Christmas
Thank you Betty! That means so much. You are so right…we never have to look far in this broken world we live in. Thankful for hearts like yours tonight, we are in this together. Merry Christmas!
Wrecked and loving it,
Jennifer
Jennifer, thank you for sharing this beautiful picture of what Christmas is all about. What strikes me is that you were prepared to share, taking more than “just enough.” Too often we think only of our own needs and aren’t ready for those we meet who might ask if we have something for them. Thanks for the reminder.
Merry Christmas and God bless you and your family,
Linda
Beautiful. I’m speechless. I think my heart has been distracted, but I never would have put it that way until I read your words. Thank you – deeply.
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