Goodness gracious; it’s 2018! This New Year I hopped into a huge van with 9 of my friends from Biola, and we went to Ensenada, Mexico to build a home for the sweet Martinez fam!
WHAT A WEEK. I laughed, cried, worshiped, hammered, nailed, painted, spoke, read, learned, and listened. Along the way I realized many nifty truths, so I wanted to take a few posts to jot down some lessons I learned.
Today’s lesson = Check your sight.
All week long, the family was helping us to build their home. I painted with Marta and tried to speak in Spanish with Roberto as we worked on the interior of the house. They had seen it all week; it was not a surprise when it was finished.
At the end of our work, we had a dedication ceremony. We all gathered into a circle in front of the house. Each of us team members took turns holding the keys and speaking to the family, telling them how much this week meant to us and how grateful we were.
I’ll never forget the moment that Marta and Roberto held their keys for the first time.
Marta was holding baby Roberto Jr. on her hip, crying tears of joy. Roberto looked so happy. They spoke loving words to us all and then opened up their new home!
In that moment, the house that they had been working on shifted into a home that they had been given. They saw it no longer as a project, but as a gift.
And that made all the difference.
I realized that, so often in my own life, I see God’s gifts not as gifts but as projects I need to work on.
example time…
I feel like school is a burden I have to carry by myself.
I feel like friendships are a stressful thing I have to maintain.
I feel like a job is an un-fun thing I have to keep.
reality time…
Each one of these things is a gift from God. While I do have responsibility (which is also a blessing!), I can breathe easy and realize that, ultimately, all authority and control is God’s.
“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”–Matthew 11:27-30
Jesus is in control over everything, and he gives us good gifts.
Let’s make sure our perspective and sight are lined up to see those gifts as what they are: grace-filled gifts from our heavenly Father and King.
xoxo,
Rissa
PS We partnered with YUGO ministries, and they were amazing! Definitely check them out if you or your church is interested in building a family a home! They have different length trips to offer, lotsa good food, and solid worship. http://www.yugo.org/
