gracias, amiga
Lately I’ve found myself uber emotional. I want to cry at the brink of any moment. Last night, I dreamt of being at home. In my dream, I hated it. I was distraught, disturbed and screaming to come back to Cambodia. I can’t deny that a piece of my heart is being left in this country. Today at the children’s home, the girls were just pouting about my leave, asking when I will come back, telling me to stay. Each day that I go to tutor them, I get a new set of pictures they’ve each drawn for me. They’re really very beautiful. I hope to come back within a year’s time. I don’t want time to go by too fast without seeing these girls.
Sen, one of our staff workers at the children’s home, looked at me and said that he thought God would bless me more than him for coming over and bearing the burden of Cambodia in order to help the people. He just went on and on about how much they loved me and appreciated what I have done.
It dawned on me… I never wanted them to thank me.
In the US, I would do things and expect someone to thank me for what I’ve done. Sure, it’s the polite thing to do, but why do we think we deserve gratitude from people? We all do it. We get upset when we do things for others, and they don’t recognize us for it. Being in Cambodia has taught me how to genuinely do things for people and never expect a receipt for gratitude. Because when you serve others with the full love of Christ, it is a sacrificial, selfless love that cannot be matched.
Be encouraged by this scripture from Philippians 2:14,
“Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.”
Kristen, thank you for the words of Encouragement. You are right on! Even a servant’s heart can get watered down searching for compliments and praises. That verse could not be more fitting. We are in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, and to separate from it, we must take on the Character traits of God’s Son.