Entrusted With Much

Most mornings, I'm up in the 5:00 hour. So I get to hang out w/ Parker (my 12-month old) in the a.m. before Stacy and Payton wake up.

I keep the TV & Blackberry off now, Haiti-style, to keep the world from intruding on our time. He sits on my left hip/lap, leans back into the crook of my left arm, and I usually use my right hand to hold the bottle for him. Here's kinda what we look like...

When this calm mood overtakes him, it's really the only time I get to hold him while he's still. I get to sit there and look at him, hug and kiss him, as he's in the process of beef'ing himself up for his eventual spot on Da Bears D-line.

If you've ever held a child like this, you know the feeling, especially if it's your own child. It is this physical touch of love, care and safety that all humans are naturally wired to need. Especially for a baby, though, who doesn't yet understand what's going on, it's like that just becomes how they learn "love".

Both my kids have grown up w/ this time. They don't know life without the loving touch of mom & dad, the caring & safe arms of us both. We, and our kids, probably take for granted, even overlook, the whole "physical touch" thing on most days.

And then, there are the children who are born into a life very different from ours...

I was getting a tour of this orphanage's dorm rooms from two 10-yr old orphans, when I saw this little guy. He was just left there, at the edge of this empty bedroom. The way my 10-year old tour-guides didn't even notice this little guy, it was clear that the baby didn't get much attention...not like our kids get here in America. It was my first sobering reminder of the logistical realities of an orphanage. The adults have so much work to do & so many kids to take care of, they physically can not be "with" the babies all the time. We try and throw our money at these situations, but its loving human hands that are needed. The harvest really is plentiful...and the workers really are few.

He looked up at me and I saw my own 12-month old in him, just wanting my attention & affection...wanting to be held. That's what we did this mission trip for, to "hold and love on kids"...so I did...

I noticed (immediately) that his onesie was not snapped over his crotch. He wasn't wearing a diaper...his junk was just hanging out. WARDROBE MALFUNCTION?!?! ("no damage" in the video meant I didn't get pee'd on). I learned later, the babies don't wear diapers at this orphanage b/c they just pee/poop so much that they just let them do their thing...no diapers to clean that way. Of course, I was told this LONG after I had gotten down on that little carpet and held onto this child, and laid on the ground by him. It made sense, later, why the smell of urine was so strong in that room.

At least an hour later, after I had played a few games of soccer, and hung out w/ some other kids, I peeked my head inside that door to check on this little one...

He was still there. Alone. No attention. This is just how they live. I pulled up that blue chair to the left, sat down right over him & "shush'ed" him to sleep. About 5 flies landed on his face/head. He didn't budge, though...he seemed used to it. It was pretty noisy too. This was his late morning nap routine I guess...just a few steps from the open doorway to the older boys' soccer games...

Oh, its not all too enjoyable to think about, let alone watch. Its much easier and pleasant to just stay in my own comfort coma, not thinking about these children, and these circumstances. Honestly, that's how I've lived for 32.5 years. Its easy to be deceived into not reaching beyond my own family. This little baby's situation, though, very quickly started to put into perspective the life that I and my family get to live. And how important my attention, and physical touch is to our kids. It brought to life what Jesus said in Luke 12:48 "...when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required."

This little guy, this story, shook open a closed-door way-deep in my soul, revealing the truth that I have so much more to give to others...yes to my own 2 kids...but not limited to just them. We all do. The harvest really is plentiful...and the workers really are few.