During our first day of serving on the One More Child mission trip to Guatemala, one of the nannies at the malnutrition center handed me a plate of food and asked me to feed one of the youngest boys in the daycare. He was sitting in a wooden highchair, firmly strapped into place by a long piece of fabric tied around his waist. This little man had difficulty holding his head up and controlling some of his larger body movements, yet when he saw the spoon filled with food, he responded with an open mouth. Immediately as he opened his mouth for food, I recalled scripture from Matthew 6:25-34 where Jesus instructs us not to worry about what we will eat:
(25) Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? (26) Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (27) Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
Here I was feeding this toddler life-giving nutrition, while the Holy Spirit was doing the same thing for me! The next day I was also asked to feed the same little boy, whose name I learned was Jose.* Every single time I called him by name, his face responded with such joy, and the widest grin spread across his face. I knew his name! Again, the Holy Spirit used this little boy in Guatemala to speak to my heart. Our heavenly Father knows us intimately; He calls us, He knows us by name (Is. 43:1), He loves us, He feeds us, and He cares for our needs.
As I attended to Jose, I was thinking about the 11 bags filled with provisions that our team delivered to the Malnutrition Center just a few short days ago. We brought down abundant supplies to care for these children. They didn’t have to ask for clean clothes to wear, hygiene products to care for their tiny bodies, blankets to warm them at night, or craft supplies to entertain them in the afternoon. Not one single child worried about whether or not the bags were heavy or if they would make it through customs. They don’t know worry; they only understand loving care.
(28) And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. (29) Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. (30) If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe and care for you?
Jesus lovingly cares and provides for us. He doesn’t count, track, or measure – He personally knows us, even the number of hairs on our heads. If he sees when a sparrow falls, how much more will he see our need? If He adorns the wildflowers that no one will see, how much more will He care for you and me? We are called by His name, made in His image, intimately known, and loved.
May we all be like sweet, little Jose. May our hearts be filled and smiles flood our faces when our heavenly Father tenderly calls us by name. May we fully understand that when we lay aside our worries and seek first the Kingdom, all of our needs will be met.
(31) So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ (32) For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. (33) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (34) Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
*Name changed for confidentiality purposes
