Making God Smile

LOGOI
May 5
4 min read

Updated: May 8

I have an office in my home with a nice window to our quiet street. From my window I can see beautiful trees and landscaping from other houses as well as a small park a block away. People are constantly walking on sidewalks, there are lots of young children running around, and every summer, a slow moving ice-cream truck playing tunes attracting children and/or a missionary looking out the window from the office at his home.

One of my favorite “window looking” experiences, however, shows up once a week. That’s right, the garbage collector. I wrote about wanting to be a garbage man when I was a little boy back in our February letter, but here I go again.

Every once in a while, we have some items that don’t fit into the garbage can. But, if we lay it next to the garbage can and it’s not too big, they’ll usually pick it up…and I get to watch from my nice window.

We replaced some lawn furniture that was old and falling apart. I unscrewed everything and made a small pile of chair backs and table parts. Then every garbage day, I’d take a few of those bulky pieces that didn’t fit into the garbage can and prop them up next to the can on garbage day. Then I’d wait…far too excitedly, if you’d ask my wife.

Sure enough here came the truck with that big old claw to pick up the garbage can. But first, he’d position that claw in front of the old furniture pieces and ever so precisely, maneuver the claw to just pick up and toss out the old furniture pieces. It’s amazing.

At LOGOI, we have met amazing, wonderful people who are using their gifts and doing things well. The ones who are coming to my mind as I write this, however, are not the teachers and preachers — as amazing they are. Rather, the ones coming to mind are the “normal” folk who are “making God smile” with their quiet service and talent.

During one of our trips to Cuba years ago, we visited a church in downtown Havana. There were roughly a dozen of us traveling. It was lunch time and we were not expecting anything but a quick tour of the church and then we’d find a way to feed ourselves. We were very aware of the financial struggles in Cuba and feeding a bunch of visitors was not in their budget. The ladies of the church, however, had other plans. We were ushered in to their little dining room, thanked profusely for visiting their church and community, and then fed a delicious meal. I suspect they used everything they had in their little kitchen. Each bite was a humbling reminder of God’s love and grace.

Another trip to Venezuela landed us in a shanty town. It was one of my first experiences with such dire living conditions and my emotions were raw. It was hot as we entered one little shanty with dirt floors and tin walls and I saw the mom of the house hand her daughter a few coins with instructions to go buy a coke for their guests. I was so shaken when a glass of coke was handed to me I dropped it and it spilled all over their dirt floor. I still get emotional thinking about that visit and the sacrifice they gave so I could have a cold drink… which I carelessly spilled.

We have a handful of ministry partners who over the years (including this year) have helped with various projects that fall outside our budget. Like buying plane tickets for fleeing refugees, or replacing a burned up motorcycle for one of our national missionaries, or paying for boxes of toys, clothes, and gifts for children in certain situations. They have given us permission to call and ask for help. Without hesitation, they have responded. What precious gifts!

Of course, I also think of you. You don’t have to send LOGOI (or anyone else) your hard earned funds. But you do! Why? Only because you understand how much the Lord loves you and sacrificed everything for you. It’s like getting that meal in Cuba, or that Coke in Venezuela: precious gifts in love and service of our Savior. As you make God smile with your service and love, all we can do is say, “Thank you.”

I suppose you won’t be overly surprised to learn that as the garbage man is maneuvering his big claw and deftly picking up my garbage, I’m standing at my office window clapping and applauding…much to the garbage collectors’ amusement. I gave him a big thumbs out and he usually smiles and waves. He knows I’m a big fan.

So as you go about your day using the talents and gifts God has given you and even when you give that donation, just remember, the One who gave you those gifts is smiling and applauding. Way to go!

Forever,