tales inspired by photos
It is so awesome to be here. I wish I could share all the little joys. I wish there was a way to better describe my life here. Obviously there are some great challenges but I am not talking about those or even what I “do” like the teaching. It is about who I am here… just being here knowing that my ultimate goal is to be Jesus to these people. So … as I walk I am constantly smiling at people and greeting them. I scoop up children and give them big hugs, the bigger children still get big hugs. There are some special needs children who my heart is drawn to just a little extra. One is named Ramadane but they call him Judah instead. When I took his photo the other day and showed it to him he laughed such a big laugh! The thought that came was “Joyful Judah”. I decided this would be my new name for him. He is 13 years old but he does not talk, only makes little noises. Today I came across him looking so down and went up hugged on him and as I was hugging him - prayed over him and by the end of the prayer he was laughing!
I also have been able to take photos of the children with their art projects. They love this. While doing this the other day I zoomed in on the face of Catarina, one of the girls. When I showed it to her she got so quiet and just stared intently at it. To me it seemed that she was a little surprised at what I captured. She is absolutely beautiful and the view I got is so sweet. When I told her how much I liked it she very humbly said something to the effect of “me too”. I don’t know if I am properly getting across her reaction. It was like she was in awe of her own image but not at all in a prideful way. My thought is this - how many of us if we were shown our “photo” taken by God would be in awe and somewhat surprised at how beautiful we are? I am not at all promoting a “soulish” pride but a proper understanding that we are His children, His creation. He finds us amazingly beautiful to gaze at and He loves us so. How many of us need to stand before the mirror of God’s Word to see through all the lies and improper identities that we have accepted to see our proper identity in Him. I think we like Catarina will be temporarily silenced and in awe. How wonderful it is to be a child of the Most High God … but we cannot stop there. We must learn to also see others the way God sees them.
This seems like a perfect place to share a poem that God gave me years ago that deals with just this.
Heavenly Eyes
Oh please do not look at me
With your earthly eyes
Try and see me as the one
Who has his throne on high
For where you may see the surface
He sees what’s within
He still calls me his beloved
Although He knows my sin
He understands my weakness
My failures and my shame
He has watched me take my every step
He knows which left me lame
So you may see me as I am
this day this hour this place
But He sees me as I can be
through His love, His power, His grace
Copyright Laura Eubanks 2-24-2002
