sidewalk chalk
As I was packing our bags last week, I grabbed this little bucket of sidewalk chalk on a whim. You can see... it only cost a $1, last summer sometime in the Target dollar bins I think.
That bucket is now nearly empty, and this picture is the best I can do to tell the story of how God has gone before us and orchestrated this week, a time to come alongside our brothers and sisters here in Ixtlan... to remind them that they are loved, and that there is a God who cares deeply about each of them and their individual stories, hurts, challenges, and joys.
I've come this week feeling very weak, very unworthy, and very incapable of being a source of encouragement to anyone. It's been so humbling to watch how God did not need me to be strong, or worthy, or capable - rather, He just needed me to be available and He has done all the work. When I threw that bucket of colorful chalk into the bag, I had no idea that He would use it to help my children build cross-cultural, cross-language friendships. So many forms of play require communication, but this one does not - and He knew that.
He has also lead us through countless conversations and plans and helped me to see that all I need to be is myself, by His grace... I don't need to try to do more than I can, or give advice I don't have, or solve problems I don't understand. I just need to kneel down beside my brothers and sisters and maybe not say anything... just share chalk and be together.
That bucket is now nearly empty, and this picture is the best I can do to tell the story of how God has gone before us and orchestrated this week, a time to come alongside our brothers and sisters here in Ixtlan... to remind them that they are loved, and that there is a God who cares deeply about each of them and their individual stories, hurts, challenges, and joys.
I've come this week feeling very weak, very unworthy, and very incapable of being a source of encouragement to anyone. It's been so humbling to watch how God did not need me to be strong, or worthy, or capable - rather, He just needed me to be available and He has done all the work. When I threw that bucket of colorful chalk into the bag, I had no idea that He would use it to help my children build cross-cultural, cross-language friendships. So many forms of play require communication, but this one does not - and He knew that.
He has also lead us through countless conversations and plans and helped me to see that all I need to be is myself, by His grace... I don't need to try to do more than I can, or give advice I don't have, or solve problems I don't understand. I just need to kneel down beside my brothers and sisters and maybe not say anything... just share chalk and be together.
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