Sunday, January 24, 2016

Where Have YOU Come From?



I have a new friend and her name is Wilna. She is from Port au Prince. We were seat mates on my Miami to CapHaitian flight in December. It is so rare that I meet a woman who is taller than me. Usually in pictures I am the one towering over everyone else. This gorgeous lady got on the plane after I was settled into my seat with a large smoothie of some sort. I try to be respectful of people's space or in this case, the lack of space on an airplane . If someone puts in earphones that is your cue to mind your own business which I did. It wasn't long before those long legs kicked over her luscious smoothie. I helped her wipe it up and we got to talking. We only finished our conversation as the plane started to circle Cap Haitian.

It was the first time she would be going back home in almost 15 years. As we circled she looked out the window and told me more about her beloved country. During that flight she opened my mind to some new truths about this country that seems to call to me. She was going back to be with her family for a funeral. In fact, at least 1/3 of the plane were relatives of hers! She saw a cousin that she hadn't seen since she was a little girl back in Port au Prince.

Here was a woman who could help me fill in some of the gaps in my understanding of Haiti. What a beautiful soul she is. She was one of the lucky ones who was educated as a child in school. She went on to college and then went on to law school and became a lawyer. Her parents raised her and all her siblings to leave the island when they finished with their education and move to America. All of her siblings are now proud American citizens.

One of things that so fascinates me about Wilna is her desire to give back. She could be making a lot more money as a lawyer. Instead, she is the Director of Family Services for Habitat for Humanity of Collier County. She talks about her work at Habitat like I talk about my work as a midwife. Her face lights up. I had to giggle because she told me some of her responsibilities is to hold clients accountable for paying their bills and helping with the building of their homes. She told me that she doesn't accept excuses for not having a job or money to pay the bills. She remembers where she has come from. You see, her past has given her the opportunity to serve right where she is at. She is thankful for the opportunity to serve.

It reminds where I have come from. Honestly, there are times when I just want to throw in the towel. Life is filled with heartache and grief. It becomes overwhelming at times when I feel my heart breaking once again. I see women my age having lunch with their Mama's or taking them to doctors appointments and it breaks my heart. I miss never even getting the chance to know my Mama. There is a hole that simply will never be filled. Most of the time I am fine but then there are those times when other grieves come crashing in and add to a sense of loss.

Then I remember that because of where I have come from, I have a perfect Heavenly Father who loves me just as I am. He loves me. Stop for just a moment and lets settle right here. He, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords loves me. He doesn't see all the faults because when he sees me Jesus is standing in front of me, covering all of my faults. He loves me. And dear friend, he loves you to.

Recently, Wilna and I were talking and catching up and she reminded me that no matter where we have come from we are to look forward knowing that in times of great trouble God will indeed carry us. Why? Because once again he reminds that he loves us!

I am thankful that Wilna and I have crossed paths. She is a fellow believer who walks faithfully with the LORD.  She can be added to a great cloud of witnesses who are faithful. What about you? Do you know where you have come from? If so, do you know where and with whom you are going? I want to remind you to look forward. Someday God will make all things new.
Till then,



Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the ground each morning Satan says, "Oh crud, she's up".