five years ago my family and i skipped presents and seeing each other at christmas to meet up in haiti. it was fun/wonderful/impacting/educational/hilarious/heartbreaking. so much so that in january of 2014, we'll pack everyone up (three more sisters-in-law, two nieces, and one nephew to add to the itinerary) and do it all again. haiti has wriggled its way into our hearts and i can't wait to go and scoop little black babies into my arms and kiss them until i leave.
last night i was in a cab on my way to meet my family at les mis (another blog for another time, but holy crap go see it). the driver was trying to explain something about the direction he was headed because i was confused. then i recognized that accent. i asked him where he was from and he said haiti. we started talking about when he came to america, his family, his job in haiti (a politician) vs. his job here (a cab driver). he kept mentioning God, so i asked him if he had a church here and he said he was a pastor! in crown heights. he translates the sermons into english from creole. one thing led to another and we sang i have decided to follow Jesus in creole. a couple times. he was so happy, and so was i.
after the song was finished he said, "Jesus. he brings everyone together." i got teary eyed, said "amen", and we bid farewell like we were family - because we are.
this christmas, i've been reminded of the connectedness of God and the generosity of those he blesses. if it weren't for my dad being so blessed by the organization he works with, we wouldn't have been able to make so many christmas memories around a table eating great food or doing fun things. if i wouldn't have been so incredibly blessed by the family i work for, i wouldn't have been able to hear that haitian cab driver say, "you don't know how much i needed this! God bless you!", when i paid him double what the fare was.
we're blessed to bless. just don't get that mixed up with 'we bless to be blessed'.
No comments:
Post a Comment