Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Simple Significance

It cost me almost nothing. Nothing more than a few minutes of my time and a couple dollars.

I noticed him for the first time at church out in one of our villages. A sweet little boy of five or six with an ugly sore on his head. He sat quietly, listening to the lesson, and trying to keep the flies from landing on the sore.

After church I spoke to his grandmother and asked if I could take a picture of his head with my phone so I could ask my nurse friend what I could do to help. The old woman smiled at me, grateful for my offer.

We return with some medicated shampoo and anti-fungal cream along with simple instructions on how to help clear up his head. It was a simple solution. Nothing hugely significant in my mind at least.

And yet the grandmother thought otherwise.

She invited the disciples back to her home, a long walk from the church, and offered tea and bread. Then she served lunch of rice and greens and sent dried manioc and mangos home with us. It was all an offering of thanksgiving out of her poverty.

She was grateful, but I was humbled.

I was amazed that something so simple could have affected someone so much. I was reminded of all the things I take for granted without ever giving glory to the One who provided.

But isn't that what Jesus taught?

He said, "I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward." (Mark 9:41)

God always uses the least of us to show His greatness. The seemingly insignificant to show His significance. Again, I am humbled.

The boy's head is healing. Just a bit of time and money was all it took to make a major impact on this family and to glorify our King.

Take a moment to look around you and see how you can touch someone.

To find out how you can help us make a difference to those around us, please visit The ECHO Project.

Lisa

2 comments:

  1. Hello Lisa Harris. How it is blessed to know you and your writings and the ministry you do. Would love to have access to your books as well as we would love to have you come to Mumbai, India to encourage us and spend time with us in working amongst the poorest of poor in the slums of Mumbai bringing healing to the broken hearted. As one of your desire to travel to new places. study the world around you and spending time with the friends and family. To come to Mumbai on a short term missions trip will fullfill the desire of your heart adding new friends and learning and encouraging others in the ministry. I will love to have your books.I am in the Pastoral ministry for last 34yrs in this great city of Mumbai a city with great contrast where richest of rich and the poorest of poor live. We reach out to the poorest of poor with the love of Christ to bring healing to the broken hearted. We also encouage young people as well as adults from the west to come on a short term missions trip to work with us during their summer vacation. My email id is : dhwankhede(at)gmail(dot)com and my name is Diwakar Wankhede. Wish you a very blessed and joyous Christmas and a Christ centered New year. Looking forward to hear from you very soon.

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