Miracle

“Teacher!” he sobbed as he ran toward me in the compound where I had just entered the gate. He was holding his belly, crying and breaking my heart all at once. It was Miracle, whom many of you will remember from my stories last year. He simply grabbed my heart from the very first moment I laid eyes on him. My now little/big boy, 10 going on 11 and yet still in the second grade, continues to take up space in my heart. Sick much of the time due to the disease he did not earn or deserve, he has suffered much in his short life. On this day, he had had enough. So, I tried to understand his tears, (his English is limited), and pulled him close, as a mother bird shelters her young under her wings. I love this child with every fiber of my being. 

I felt the strong urge to hail a boda and take him home to nurse him all the day long, but alas, other needs would come. So I contented myself with holding him, and pouring out every single ounce of love that was freely given to me while he nestled even further into my arms. Miracle was holding onto me for dear life. His grip, simultaneously the sign of his fear, and his hope. He was safe there, momentarily distracted from his misery by the love that overwhelmed us both. In fact, I found myself with tears as well, ones that were in wonder that my Father is so near to these little ones, the brokenhearted and diseased, indeed to us all. 

As I comforted him, prayed for him and waited with Him as He drank in the moment like cool water on a scorching day, I was reminded of the simplicity of coming to our Father. All that is required is that we turn our attention to Him, seeing His eyes of love smiling at us, longing to be with us in whatever type of moment we find ourselves. He never leaves us or forsakes us. Hebrews 13:5.  How often do we try to soothe away our own problems, pains and distresses all by our lonesome when His hand is outstretched still? The truth is, on this day, I was discomforted within myself as well, hearing lies from the father of lies, and in need of help. Miracle was the very first person I met as I walked into the gate. There are no coincidences in the kingdom. Our Father never misses a moment to come when we call. 

I want each human that I am here to serve, to know this nearness. There is no greater joy for me than to see Him heal hearts and bodies and to reveal the magnitude of His love to the ones He places in my path. My heart is for each one to be made whole, mind, body and spirit. Being placed at a school is no mistake, and I don’t take for granted the moments that I have here to reveal the goodness of God, His beautiful and happy nature, and His desire to love us into wholeness. I find myself in need of this wholeness as well… to be ever nearer to the one who calls me by name. 

…”Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1

Those precious moments with Miracle seemed to last quite some time, but we finally emerged from the cocoon with a smile on our faces. I knew this was no chance encounter, and so did he. When I popped back into his classroom later on to check on him, he grinned at me and grabbed me again, this time with joy that he was no longer in pain and fear. God is so good.