Today my daughter worked in a homeless shelter in a poor neighborhood in San Diego. She was told to bring an empty backpack with her.... she did not know why. When she got to the meeting location before her journey, she was told to fill her backpack up with supplies. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, brushes, combs, body wash, shampoo, and socks.... lots and lots of socks.
The group of young teenagers and youth leaders arrived at a homeless motel.. Then the kids and leaders in groups of five or six took to the streets with their supplies and the Gospel of John... My young daughter who enjoys all the comforts of a upper middle class family in America had her eyes opened today..... She met many people down on their luck... many people that were happy if they were lucky enough to have a warm bed for the night.... She heard stories of death and desperation... She met people with mental illnesses and people who just wanted to be treated like they were human....and not the animals that most people saw.... today these people saw a glimpse of God's love through my twelve year old daughter's heart....
I picked her up tonight and she had a glow...All of a sudden she starts confessing her "sins" to me...She said she wanted to let me know that she has said very bad words in the past... (as if I did not know - I was twelve once too) and from this day forward she will no longer say the bad words... She said that she had to tell me.. to come clean...
She said she felt good passing out the supplies to the people on the streets... she said the hottest thing was the socks...everyone asked for socks.. "One man asked for two pairs so he could give one to his friend - but I think he just wanted another pair for himself and that's okay" my wise daughter said tonight... "Mom, you know on the streets.... socks are worth more than gold..."
So God took care of my little girl today..... Kind of funny - I was so nervous to send her but all day I just felt a sense of calm....no fear.. and today it was crazy non-stop business day... I'm thinking that God just brought up the calm spirit and the hectic day to take my worries away....
