Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Our lives are a tapestry. That sounds a bit cliché but it’s true. Each one of us is a unique creation and I like to view my life as a large quilt that God is working on everyday. I am being sewn together by threads of life…threads strategically placed by the master Creator. Each thread, color and design represent the people, places and events that have made me in to the person that I am. I’ve realized how precious every life is and how important it is to view each person as God’s unique masterpiece, his handiwork. This helps me understand the importance of every person that crosses my path.
Sometimes life has a way of making me feel a little worn and tattered. Then, I see the smiles and hear the laughter of the kids at Hope of Life. Each child that I work with holds a place in my heart—they are forever woven in my tapestry. So many of the children we work with are facing serious challenges. They teach me unconditional love that can only come from God. This little man in the picture, Manuel, is one of the most beautiful people in my world. When I moved here he could not even hold his head up, he did not have much use of any of his muscles, except for his hands. He was able to hold on to a ball at first and then he started to throw it, always expecting me to chase after it—and he knew that I would! Over the past three years this little fighter is now crawling and holding his head up. Manuel begins preschool this year and he has already started speaking! He looked up at me the other day from his wheelchair and said, “pelota.” – Spanish for ball. I gave it to him and he gave me a killer smile. I would call that an equal trade. Manuel is woven in to my life’s tapestry. He definitely brings beauty and sunshine and bright colors and joy! God is weaving his life in to a beautiful, one of a kind priceless treasure! He has already used him to do good works and I know this is only the beginning. Come and visit Manuel and his friends, you won’t have any regrets—just be ready to play a little pelota!
