The One

The big wide brown eyes full of curiosity and wonder are forever engraved in my mind.

Walking down the streets of Pakistan, a little girl caught my attention, she must have been four or five. Wonder and curiosity were in her eyes. My gaze made it to her little bare feet and noticed they were bandaged. I asked the translator to ask her what happened, she told him about an accident and that she got stitches. I asked my translator to ask if her feet hurt. She nodded her little head while her eyes remained locked with mine. I squatted down to her level, put my hands on her sweet little feet, and I was overcome with compassion and began to weep. The love of the father for this little girl poured out through me. I prayed, don’t remember what I said, and I got up looking for the translator to ask her if her feet still hurt, I turned to look at her and realized she ran off, gone. The answer was clear; In my heart I know she was healed, she was able to run because there was no pain. I will never know the name of that little girl but one thing I do know; her life was forever etched with a touch of the father’s love, not me, but the Father. 

This was the memory that surfaced to mind when I was in conversation with a mentor of mine. He said, “I was told this once and I share with you, ‘I do what I do for The One.’” 

I’ll share this as well. I was talking with a friend who shared his story about wanting to commit suicide at one point in his life and how God showed up for him at the very moment he was about commit this. I shared how I was remembering how at one point in my past I was certified with suicide prevention to help others and how I didn’t know if I needed to get re-certified. His response, “I heard this. Love the one in front of you.” 

Sometimes when we are in a season of either attack, trials, self-doubt or just wanting to give up, we must remember “the one.” It isn’t about the masses or the accolades from others, it is about the life in front of you. It is about the one that needs a reminder they are loved. It is about the one that needs some sort of healing, whether physical, emotional or mental healing. You just never know what a catalyst you may be for the person hurting, helping them understand they are seen and important. 

We must learn to get over ourselves and open our eyes to see others.

As I mentioned, I will never know the name of that little girl. Something else I won’t know is the impact my obedience made in her life. I may have prayed for her feet to be healed, yet I don’t know what truly transpired when she was noticed by the stranger from America who took the time to pray for her. 

You never know who “the one” is. But what I can say is this, notice the one in front of you.

A smile, a hello, a hug can be the difference between life and death.