Chapter Four - Do You See Me Now?


Do You See Me Now?
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Proverbs 21:13
Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.
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Do you see me as I jump into your arms?  Watch me laugh as I sprint across the courtyard!
Do you see me?
Do you see me as I swing?  I can go so high!  My dirty little feet can almost touch the sky!
Do you see me?
Do you see me as I slip on down the slide?  It is fast and it is fun.
Do you see me?
Do you see me eat the candy?  The taste is very fine.  My grinning mouth is smeared with sugar.
Do you see me?

Do you see that courtyard?  There is trash all over.  Criss crosses from the rain cut through sand to reveal the muddy dirt.
Do you see it?
Do you see the swing?  The chains are rough and rusted and only the sun-hot metal frame of the wooden seat remains.
Do you see it?
Do you know that the slide is cracked here and there and there?  It cuts my arm a bit.
Do you see it?
Do you see my teeth?  The candy and no toothbrush has rotted them away.  I’m only 6 years old.
Do you see it?

Do you feel my arms around your neck?  Do you see my smile?   Do you see me hug you, and never let you go.
Do you see me?  

Do you see the boy?  His eyes reach out to you! Do you see his pain?  The drugs, the fights, the poverty rips his family to shreds.  He knows there is a better way.  But he is so broken.  Will you let the darkness in him stay?
Do you see him?

Do you see his older sister?  Nearly dead was she.  The drugs she took only to escape the life of pain and poverty.  “There is no better home for me!  There is no better life!  I take the drugs to escape my parents’ drunkenness and strife.”  She takes them because she cannot as the oldest child bear, to see her youngers hurt and struggling, and not help to ease their care.
Do you see her?

Oh! Now do you see me?!  Now do you see the pain?  Now do you see the poverty?  But do you see the joy!  I have hope because of you.  I have hope because of Jesus!
Do you see me?

I have hope because this school promises me a better life.  I have hope because you love me, and taught me of Jesus Christ.  Will you see the others?  Will you give to them?  Do you see the poor?   Honduras, Kansas City, China and Kentucky; Tennessee and Pakistan, Lebanon and Mali.  The poor are all around you.
Do you see them?

Go, and see the poor.  They live right next to you.  Go and give them hope, because Christ brought hope to you.  You need not travel far.  If you cannot travel, pray. God will send them where you stay.  But obey and serve you must, just as His Word doth say. Do you see them now?
Go you now and see them.
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What good is my compassion if it does not move me to act compassionately?  Any rebukes and charges and emotional stimulants are to myself as much as you.  I am neglectful and willfully ignorant.  I do not see them.  Lord, help me to see them!  I love you Lord.  Help me to love you.  Help me to love them.

Comments

  1. Gosh, how I cried reading every word, Alexis. How beautifully and so eloquently written. It moves. It touches the soul! It stirs the heart to not only see, but to do for and to pray for the poor, the less fortunate, the least of these. I pray for each and every one of those special and adorable lives that you touch. Praying too for you in every way. And praying that we see and meet the needs of the poor in our own home towns. Great is your reward in heaven, baby girl! I love you to infinity! Xoxo ~Momma

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  2. Lucky, that is absolutely beautiful AND at the same time makes me wanna cry! It sounds like you are truly seeing life there in Honduras through God's eyes, and what a gift that is;) praying for you girl, can't wait to hear more about your adventures!

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  3. Tears...You touched my heart
    I pray you can carry this "pain". Thanks for sharing and may you see God intervene!

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