Give Until it Hurts

Each day I am home it feels as if God knows my heart even more. And since He has known the number of hairs on my head down to the way I'll pass into the streets of Heaven, it's pretty amazing. He's been giving me little miracles to help me transition back to life here. And maybe it makes things more bearable, yes; but I've secretly been hoping that I do NOT transition back...not fully, at least. What joy it has been for my heart to carry around the things I experienced there. I brought back a piece of the land, a piece of the children, a piece of the beauty and wonder, the people....the sorrow, the pain, the poverty...they outline my heart and have created its own tapestry. Tonight our team that traveled to Haiti together is meeting up to go buy some items for the soccer team from Haiti (who will be playing in the USA Cup this weekend in Blaine) to bring with them when returning home in a week. I am so excited to see everyone that I can't contain myself!

Ever since I've been back I've been thinking about how to love people more...not just my family, but complete strangers. You have to know deep down that something connects all of us to each other. We're still connected to those we have nothing in common with. The desire to serve and help has grown beyond what I thought it could--and my career is one that is already devoted to love, caring, and service. The great Mother Teresa said, "Love is not patronizing and charity isn't about pity, it is about love. Charity and love are the same -- with charity you give love, so don't just give money but reach out your hand instead." This was what Haiti was about. And just because we're home NOW doesn't mean we lose the duty to be the hands and feet of Jesus. There is an aching world out there. People are hurting, lost, and confused--not just in Haiti. In St. Paul, Minnesota. In Dubuque, Montana. In Los Angeles. In every village, town, and state in our own country and around the world. You don't have to help someone climb Mount Everest to "help" them. I think I've realized that.

When I reached down to hold the hand of a baby in Haiti, that was enough. How did I know? Because I looked down into that baby's eyes. She didn't smile because she didn't know what joy was. But she was pleading and thanking me at the same time. If we're not helping others, we're unhelping ourselves....we're unraveling. Each person has his or her right to determine how much to give, how much to help...but I want to GIVE UNTIL IT HURTS. If t
he suffering of any of the people in Haiti or around the world has any use at all, I've discovered, it's not to call oneself a "sufferer." Rather, the only way pain and suffering gain meaning is through communication to others. Through helping I learned, I gained. Not on purpose, but because God chose to allow this to be one of the most beautiful mysteries of life: Through helping others we discover and help a little part of ourselves.