Anna's Joys: Freely we receive, freely give....

"Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love"-Mother Teresa

It is only appropriate to insert a Mother Teresa quote after spending 11 weeks in her homeland, standing in the location of her birthplace, and visiting her memorial chapel. But this quote is also symbolic of what these past months have been for me. None of what I have spent the past months doing would be considered doing "great things". I haven't launched into a "great" career, poured into a "great" ministry role, or tried to make the world a better place through participating in a "great" NGO or community organization.

Instead I have just spent this time changing diapers, preparing meals, giving a toddler a drink of water, reading stories, and going on many many pretend camping trips. But all with great love- a love that I know I wouldn't be capable of giving if it hadn't already been generously given to me.

"Freely you receive. Freely Give"-Matthew 10:8

So much in these past months have shown me how much I have been given and how much I've received.

I've received much just by being born and raised in the US, by the security living their at this time provides and by the opportunities that exist.

I've received so much just by how I was raised and loved by my parents and family. So many aspects of my upbringing have resurfaced throughout the days with the children here. Memories that have turned into stories to tell Marta, games and activities that I can apply with the kids, a fascination of the precious and unique moments in each child's life, an appreciation of family time, and of course countless examples of tender and loving parenting that have contributed to enabling me to do the small things with great love.

Finally, I've received so much more from the Father. From Him pouring His love into my life, supplying strength for each day, wisdom for each situation, grace and peace within moments of chaos, and the joy of living in each moment with Him.

So the only natural response to all of this is to give:

I have been provided for in order to provide for others, I have been cared for in order to care for others, I have been loved and cherished in order to love and cherish. I have been given much in order to do small things with great love.

I am so very grateful to have had these past 11 weeks to give to and receive from so many lovely people here in Macedonia. It will be a very broken heart that boards the plane early Monday morning at the Skopje, Airport. It is never an easy thing to leave such a lovely place with such precious people.

But I will also be returning to some precious faces in Belgium for a few days before being joined by my dearest friend Katherine who will spend several weeks with me on a travel adventure to Paris, England, Ireland, and Italy all made possible by a very generous gift.
So once again freely I receive.............in order to freely give.

"God is in love with us and keeps giving Himself to the world-through you-through me..............May you continue to be the sunshine of His love to your people and thus make your life something truly beautiful for God"-Mother Teresa