I felt wrecked— it was the weight of their gratitude that did it.
“Mama,” my 8-year old called out softly as she sat in an armchair.
Her eyes were glazed, gently pondering.
Then spontaneously, she said, “I’m… I’m so thankful for this house, for the gifts people gave us, for the friends we have here in Singapore.”
As she held back tears, I held mine in too as I enveloped her in a huge hug.
I looked at the home we were now in Singapore during our month-long visit— a gift from a stranger who had vacated her newly renovated home to live with a friend just so it could accommodate our urgent return; the meals and things friends and strangers bought for us to surprise us; the friends who made time to come visit or take us out— the doctors who saved Cliff’s life… and I marvel at His Grace and provision.
But that wasn’t all- that evening, as we went to the playground, my 6 year old screamed as she discovered her greatest surprise.
My bird-lover, feather-collecting child who has consistently seen God’s love for her through—yes, feathers—found a rare, foot-long blue-green-purple feather at the playground, which likely belonged to a macaw parrot, owned by an elderly neighbor.
“WOW!!!” She jumped up, “I ALWAYS wanted something like this!”
As I worried about our situation back home in Africa, and how dysregulated I was due to the stressful living conditions, I was suddenly nudged to remember God’s message to each of us- how no matter where we are, He remains the same, providential, loving and lavish. And I can look to Him no matter what our circumstances, no matter where in the world we are.
As I think about our time here in Singapore coming to an end, my heart swells with gratitude and grief, knowing it knew what it meant to be loved.
Thank you friends, for welcoming us home. It meant more than you know.
