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My
father has taught me many things, but one thing has stood out time and
again- the power of giving.
Fifteen years ago my dad felt compelled to go on a short-term mission trip
to Honduras, putting his skills as a builder to work on a medical clinic.
While there, he befriended a rag-tag group of children who played near the
building site. They captured his heart, especially the 4-year-old boy named
Ybor. He was the son of the village prostitute, usually left in the care of
his elderly grandfather.
When Dad came home, he left a piece of his heart with a little boy in that
seaside village. Over 10 years later, my father returned to Honduras after
Hurricane Mitch ravaged the country. Ybor was not forgotten. Dad heard that
the boy had been given up for adoption and hoped to meet the young man Ybor
must have grown into. Dad gave a lot of thought to a suitable gift for Ybor. |
He
finally settled on a fully equipped toolbox, remembering how expensive they
had been to purchase locally on his previous visit. Dad was unprepared for
Ybor's reaction. Ybor grabbed the box and ran back into the little house
where he lived with his adoptive family. When he emerged again, his face was
wet with tears, as was that of his adoptive mother. She explained that Ybor
had just been offered a rare opportunity as an apprentice, but the
stipulation was that he needed to provide his own tools. The cost of tools
locally was prohibitive, but they had prayed only that morning that God
would provide.
God had planted a seed of love in the fertile soil of a giving heart over 10
years before, and it brought the increase just when it was needed most. My
dad gave a box of tools, but I'm certain that what he received was more
precious- the knowledge that as a giver, he is a powerful instrument of
God's love. |