Lessons from a Four Year Old
Because Uganda is the youngest country on the continent of Africa, there are children in every nook and cranny. One time I tried to count the number of children wandering around by themselves, who should have at that time been in school, and lost track after ten minutes. Beautiful moments captured on my Uganda movie reel reveal so much about a culture I know so little about. Yesterday, I watched a child around 6 years old pick up a much smaller child to carry him over the small pond of rain water in their path. Later on, I saw a little girl, about five, with a comfy sleeping baby wrapped around her like a proper mama. There are no shortages of naked baby bums toddling too and fro, and of course, who doesn’t smile at that thought? Today, one such naked baby came screaming “mommy” toward me from the slum, and of course, I scooped her right up and we cuddled to our hearts content. (If you love children, get on a plane “now now” as they say here.) By the way, I have never seen her in my entire life.
Have you ever just wanted to be that safe loving presence that makes Jesus impossible to resist? For me, this is my fervent and constant prayer. However, sometimes things don’t come quite as easily as little babies screaming mommy at me running full speed into my arms off the top of the stairs. Ha! So I encourage myself with this admonition. “Keep on being BRAVE! It will bring you the great rewards. Learn to be patient, so you will please God and be given what He has promised.” Hebrews 10:35-36.
In that light, I want to introduce the story of a little girl I met one day, named Jackie.
Jackie belongs to a mama who helps us at our boarding school in Busiika. When I first met her, she looked at me with suspicion and a cold disconnect that begged for my wholehearted response. She stood across the room from me, not facing me directly except to steal glances every once in a while, and she refused to speak at all or acknowledge that I was speaking to her. At first I wondered if it was because she did not know English, but quickly I surmised, she simply did not trust the likes of me. Every question rose in my heart. What wonderful adventure awaited us, and how was the Father going to reach her?
Lesson One
His love and goodness are unquestionable. At ALL costs, the world must know, “Love never stops loving.” 1 Corinthians 13:8
Of course, “have coloring book, will travel” is a firm motto, so the first time I met her I whipped out my best coloring book, sat on the floor, and laughed like a little kid as my colors made a pretty picture. She is a beautiful child, like all, with a jaw like flint, and big brown piercing eyes. Jackie is a child force. So when I first presented the coloring book, she was completely undaunted. How often has my Father invited me to talk, dream and learn from Him that I too have turned my untrusting heart back to what is familiar and “safe”? With Jackie, it took a few of my lopsided goofy smiles and a few pieces of my cassava snack before she finally sat down, unsmiling beside me. Not surprisingly, this only lasted for a minute or two, and then she was off once again. It took a few more tries throughout the morning before she willingly chose her own page, a crayon and set about creating her masterpiece. Needless to say, I left that day with a grin and lesson number two.
Lesson Two
Jesus will always meet us where we are. He will never force His love on us. He will never demand His way. He never stops. Nor can we. ”Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.” 1 Corinthians 13:7
As time went on, I had a few more opportunities to invite her to be my friend. I remember my next efforts came with just saying her name every time I saw her, praying that she would catch my love, and of course, always being available should she ever want to move a little closer. How many of you know that every time we say one another’s name, we dignify our connection. We show we are committed to knowing one another, more and more. This Jackie was a tough nut to crack though, and each cool gaze indicated she wasn’t quite ready to come yet. Respectfully, I allowed her that space.
Lesson Three
My Father will never grow tired of pursuing my heart, or yours either. He will never be satisfied until we fully surrender to the truth of His love for us.
“Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense.” 1 Corinthians 13:5B
At this point, most of you have predicted that I would soon pull out the superpower called ”stories”! My backpack library was quickly opened for business. Armed with books that she might be able to grasp from the pictures, while I read in English, what child could resist? A tiny bit interested, she would sit close enough to hear, but not close enough that I might actually think she was listening. Each time she resisted, I loved her all the more. After all, you have to respect a girl who knows her boundaries and is not afraid to use them.
Lesson Four
Jesus will never cross our boundaries by any means. He was acquainted with our weaknesses, and knows us more than we know ourselves.
“Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor.” 1 Corinthians 3:5A
Each interaction that I had with her had a new little glimmer. There began a time when we were both around, that she began to simply sit and stare at me, and at a very safe distance, follow me around wherever I went. She even followed me out into the field once, and when she got hurt, allowed me to pick her up and help her with her boo-boos! Imagine the little stray leak in the corner of my eye when this happened! A miniscule shift was happening, surely victory was near.
Then, one day, I thought it might soften her up to hold the guitar I was holding. She crawled up into a big fat chair, and her feet barely reached the edge of the cushion. As I gently laid the instrument onto her lap, since it was bigger than she was, I showed her how to move the strings to make noise. At first, she gently touched them, but soon became enthralled with bigger sounds. Her fingers became an instrument of her inner force, a rockstar perhaps? Jackie discovered a little bit of her unique expression that day. She had been given a voice of sorts, and I prayed she would share it one day soon. I had a dream.
Lesson Five
His pursuit of our hearts is uniquely designed to create a special and intimate relationship with Him alone. He approaches us in all manner of ways, speaking to us if we would but listen and offering a love that is far beyond what we could ever imagine.
“Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all.” 1 Corinthians 13:1
As it turned out, it is good to dream and hope because love overcomes. When I got out of the car to go into school one day recently, she saw me and grinned the biggest grin you’ve ever seen and laughed out loud! I have NEVER seen her ridiculously adorable smile! It lit up my world brighter than the sun. Can you hear my joy? Jackie.smiled.at.me. and no sooner had this wonder emerged that she cautiously, but quickly moved toward me. Full of wonder, I sat down to get eye to eye with her, and reached out to give her a big hug, because it seemed right. Guess what? She hugged me back!
Next, she pushed back, hands still on my shoulders, looked me square in the face and announced in Lugandan something quite important. The earnest look in her eyes, and the imploring tone of her voice begged my response. Thankfully one of my Ugandan peers was standing there, and heard it all. Quickly, he busted out laughing and explained that she was tattling on Abigail, her friend, who tore the coloring papers that I had given her when I first met her oh so long ago. Can we say full circle my friends?! To my utter amazement, Jackie decided to unburden herself of this tragedy to me, with huge big brown trusting eyes that I would indeed handle the situation on her behalf. She trusted me with a hurt in her heart.
Lesson Six
“Love is a safe place of shelter.” 1 Corinthians 3:7A
Keep your eyes on the prize. Never give up hope.
“Until then, there are three things that remain: faith, hope, and love- yet love surpasses them all. So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run.” 1 Corinthians 3:13
Basking in the beauty of her trust, I was prepared to go home and call the day a success. The day was not done however, and there is absolutely nothing that could have prepared me for what happened next. Standing before me in her sweet little girl dress, with her hands covered in posho, she stared at me with such intensity it was almost uncomfortable. It was as if this was her final test, a question standing between us like a crumbling wall. Was I really a force of love in her life, whom she could trust, or was I just another uncaring grown up?
Cautiously, she took off her little flip flops, and leaned into my chest with her little self and just stood perfectly still with her head near my heart. I was overcome with the weight of this moment and every prayer I could think of was pouring through me as she allowed such an intimate interaction. Then all of the sudden, she turned herself around, plopped herself on my lap, stuck her thumb in her mouth, and sat there contentedly until she literally FELL SOUND ASLEEP. There she remained, all wrapped up in my grateful arms and prayers until it was time to go. Love wins!
Lesson Seven
With Jackie, I was reminded that often, love takes time and effort, and words are almost never the way He reveals Himself. Instead, step by step, He pursues our hearts through people that we are in relationship with, through our circumstances, and in unique ways that only we would understand. We often need each other to find Him.
Will the way we posture ourselves toward others reveal His good and wonderful nature? His relentless desire to be in relationship with us? His good plans for all, beyond our wildest thoughts? The dreams in His heart for all of humanity? “Love looks like something,” Heidi Baker.
“If I were to speak with eloquence in earth’s many languages, and in the heavenly tongues of angels, yet I didn’t express myself with love, my words would be reduced to the hollow sound of nothing more than a clanging cymbal.” 1 Corinthians 13:1 God speaks love.
The connection I felt with Jackie, as a child of God on my own journey, is not one I will soon forget. To be clear, with the Lord I absolutely act like Jackie way more than I wish that I did. These lessons from a four year old are so pure, real… well they confront me in God’s best possible way. That said, I am not sure who got the most out of this deal, Jackie or me. Honestly, I am pretty sure that we were BOTH the intended love targets of the Lord during these last few months. I hope that you too have found connection somewhere in this story.
Let’s pursue Him to KNOW Him! Let’s awaken to who we are as sons and daughters! Let’s dream impossible dreams! and above all, let’s move out into the farthest reaches of this beautiful, lost world with His unstoppable love. ”Our love for others is our grateful response to the love God first demonstrated to us.” 1 John 4:19.
Lesson Eight
“A little child will lead them.” Isaiah 11:6
Go ahead, use your sanctified imagination, close your eyes, and plop yourself onto His lap while you rest in this truth. “Everyone who loves, is fathered by God and experiences an intimate knowledge of Him.” 1 John 4:7 “This is love, that He loved us long BEFORE we loved him. It was His love not ours.” 1 John 4:10
Meet Jackie. Would you lift her up before the Lord with me?
big, brave love for you all!
