I know having favorites is generally frowned upon. However,
there is this young girl who is about 13 by now, who completely stole my heart.
Her name is Liezbeth.
She was three when I met her during my stay in Bolivia. Most
children are pretty passionate at age three, though their personalities channel
that zest in different ways. Liz wore her passion on her sleeve. And all over
the room.
Tia Fabiola used to set her up on top of a play house in the
classroom so that she would be forced to sit still. She was perched up there
like a bird in a cage, knowing she couldn’t escape. But even the caged bird
sings.
I remember being SO excited one day when Liz jumped up in my
lap, because she was not a cuddly type of girl. I was like, “finally, I think
we are connecting a little bit.” Alas, she only wanted my gum. And she
proceeded to grab it right out of my mouth while I was trying to ask her what
she wanted.
She wanted my gum, not my attention.
I recently got back in touch with Tia Fabiola. She let me
know that Liezbeth and her family no longer live in the prison – dad was
released about a year ago, so Fabiola has lost touch with them. They live out
in the Bolivian countryside somewhere.
There are hopes and dreams I have for Liz: I hope she knows
what a gem she is, I hope she lets Jesus heal the parts of her heart that have
been broken into pieces during her first 13 years on this earth. I hope I’ll
see her in heaven, because I don’t think we’ll see each other again before that
day. I dream that she’ll be strong and know that her identity is Christ, not in
anything or anyone else.
When I was regaining strength after being in the hospital in
Cochabamba, I read Psalm 139 almost every day. The pastor from the church I attended
came to visit me once I was home, and he prayed for me. I felt so vulnerable
and so safe at the same time. I was far from home, but close to my Father's heart. Life is so fragile.
My prayer today for Liz is Psalm 139:
O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything
about me. You know when I sit or stand. When far away you know my every
thought. You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest.
Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am going to say before I
even say it. You both precede and follow me and place your hand of blessing
on my head.
This is too glorious, too wonderful to believe! I can
never be lost to your Spirit! I can never get away from my God! If I go up to
heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there. If I ride the morning winds to the farthest oceans, even there your hand
will guide me, your strength will support me. If I try to hide in the
darkness, the night becomes light around me. For even darkness cannot hide
from God; to you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both
alike to you.
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and
knit them together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so
wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is
marvelous—and how well I know it. You were there while I was being formed in
utter seclusion! You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my
life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!
How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are
thinking about me constantly! I can’t even count how many times a day your
thoughts turn toward me.And when I waken in the morning, you are still
thinking of me!
Surely you will slay the wicked, Lord! Away, bloodthirsty
men! Begone! They blaspheme your name and stand in arrogance against you—how
silly can they be? O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you? Shouldn’t I
be grieved with them? Yes, I hate them, for your enemies are my enemies too.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test my thoughts. Point out anything you find in me that makes you sad, and lead me along the
path of everlasting life.
