love is {universal}

As the delegate entered the school my heart was pounding in my chest like a freight train speeding down the tracks.  I was so anxious about my ability to speak my heart in Arabic.  One older gentleman, with a long beard and a jilaba did not shake my hand but nodded politely in my direction.  It was hard not to assume that he was one of “those” kind of men.

After the program was finished, the last cookie had been eaten, and all the supplies and gifts had been distributed, we began gathering our things to leave.  Curiously, I couldn’t find my husband and soon found him talking to the older gentleman.  He seemed intent on sharing something with my husband in spite of the loud roar of children laughing and exchanging photos of each other.

He motioned for us to step outside and immediately began telling my husband what a wonderful woman he had found and insisted that he be a good husband- a faithful husband.  He smiled with a proud curl to his lip when we told him that we had three children, a sign of God’s blessing on us.

And then he began to tell us how much he appreciated what we had done that day.  It was as though my heart had been an open book that he had just read.  A huge smile crept across our faces as he told us that our project had been incredible and a truly unforgettable day in these kids’ lives.  But the best part was that we had inspired the children and given them hope that they might attain anything they wanted in life.

That perhaps this one might become a doctor, a lawyer, or even an engineer.  Our days together would be like a steady breath of air on a dwindling flame… once nurtured it would grow to be a blazing fire and one never knows just where that might take them!

But even if they never left their little village, which wouldn’t be such a terrible thing either, that they would have a grander world view than ever before.  They would know that Christians and Muslims could be friends and love one another in spite of their differences.  The message of love was universal and those little ones could embrace all the things that make us all alike, no matter where we come from, where we worship, who we marry,or who we become.

Needless to say I was deeply moved by this man’s ability to see so clearly what we had hoped for so deeply in this project.  Those children know that someone cares- and not just one, but thousands from all around the world.  I am humbled to tears to think of each of you and your deep love- your heart for reaching out to those in need.  My soul is moved beyond words and I find myself lost in this feeling of ecstatic pleasure that comes from the simple things we all cling to: love, joy, and hope.

As a little girl I dreamed of a world where everyone just got along and perhaps there is still a little bit of that girl still in me.  It is your fault, really.  I could not have done this alone.  Together we have made a difference in those little ones’ lives.  And I just cannot think of many things better than that!