“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything that I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it, but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.”

~ I Corinthians 13:1-3.

Why we do what we do and how we do it matters as much as doing what we do. Helping others when it is in our power to help them is not just our duty, it is love in action. . . 

"At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by 'I was hungry and you gave me to eat, I was naked and you clothed me, I was homeless and you took me in.' Hungry not only for bread - but hungry for love. Naked not only for clothing - but naked for human dignity and respect. Homeless not only for want of a room of bricks - but homeless because of rejection."
Mother Teresa

A new mommy for Lerato

I am happy to bring you the story of Lerato today, from the most recent Oasis Haven newsletter:

"It was a little over a week since we heard the official news, and we were waiting expectantly for the arrival of Lerato’s adoptive mother. It had been a week full of excitement, with lots of speculation from Lerato and the other children about what her new mommy and her new life would be like. The excitement only heightened by the adoption of another little boy that week.

When asked what day it was, clever Lerato exclaimed, “It’s Monday!” “But, Lerato, what day is it?” “It’s Monday,” replied Lerato, slightly annoyed at the obvious ignorance of the inquirer. “But, Lerato, what is happening today?”

Lerato’s eyes lit up and her smile widened, “I get my new mommy today!”

Lerato’s mother brought with her a small suitcase and a doll. When she opened the case she found it stuffed full of little dresses and accessories for her new doll. Mother and daughter enjoyed time getting to know each other as they dressed the doll in one outfit after another. When it came time to leave, Lerato said a quick goodbye to her housemother and jumped into the bus, eager to begin her new life with her new mommy.

Seeing Lerato off, what we know for certain is that children need mothers. They need fathers. They need loving parents dedicated to their well-being. Nothing can take the place of that in a child’s heart. Watching this precious child enter into her family, we now feel a heightened urgency to find family for the other children waiting for a mommy and daddy of their very own. The very best that we can do for every child entrusted to our care is to make sure that they have a family forever."

I can picture that little girl with her new Mommy. Can you? There is much about the world that sends us to our knees, including the devastation in Japan as I write this.  But there are also places in the world where little lights still shine in the darkness, reminding us not to give in to despair . . . 

Join me on my Jubilee. . .

With. . .

A thought for the beginning of the week:

“The word compassion is derived from the Latin words pati and cum, which together mean “to suffer with.” Compassion asks us to go where it hurts, to enter into places of pain, to share in brokenness, fear, confusion, and anguish. Compassion challenges us to cry out with those in misery, to mourn with those who are lonely, to weep with those in tears. Compassion requires us to be weak with the weak, vulnerable with the vulnerable, and powerless with the powerless. Compassion means full immersion in the condition of being human.” ~ Henri Nouwen.