In recent days we have faced several hard, complex situations. We needed the Lord’s help to walk with a light heart and to be full of His hope. Sometimes we just needed to become like children with a childlike joyful faith. My sister and I found a chorus that talks about swinging on swings and dancing for joy because we are children of God. So, just for fun we went to a local park, reserved only for women, and jumped on the swings. We were having a sweet time when three tribal women showed up with their three babies. They were from a remote and unreached area of the country and spoke the language I have been learning. They were so excited when we spoke to them in their language. They laid their babies down on the grass and jumped onto the swings with us. We swung and chatted and laughed. Eventually, we sat on the grass with the babies. “Run over to the car,” one of the ladies said to her older child, and bring back the thermos, tea cups and snacks.” Her husband was waiting in the car.
As soon as we sat down the women started questioning us about our faith. “Do you say your prayers five times a day?” They asked. When we told them we can enjoy a relationship with God at any time, one of the ladies was very concerned that we would never be forgiven and earn our way to heaven. This opened the door wide to tell them the good news that we are forgiven because of Jesus dying for our sins. He rose from the dead and prepares a place for us in heaven. Salvation is a free gift for all. They listened very intently and then the conversation moved on to other things.
On a hard day, Jesus gave us childlike joy on the swings and brought these women right to us so that this joy could spill over onto them from a dark place, who were hearing the good news for the first time. Jesus is so good.
A worker in Asia