Bethany

I'm amazed, still, 24 hours after meeting an amazing girl named Bethany (not her real name). 17 year-old Bethany shined brightly with a love and joy that could only be described as heavenly. She talked about God like he was her highest treasure, and excitedly told me about her great passion to be a light in the world and share God's message with young people. Excitement, love, joy, humility, and peace just flowed from her so naturally...so genuinely.

I met Bethany at a Burn hospital for children where my church goes every other month to play Bingo with the kids there. Bethany had been to this hospital many times for treatment after the accident she suffered 8 years ago. Yet, it had been 2 years since she had returned.

A few weeks ago Bethany had told God that she wanted to getter better. (You see, her scars are MANY. Burned skin does not heal well). And so our God who is full of unfailing love answered Bethany's prayer. Soon after she received a call from Shiner's hospital. They wanted to fly her down to do reconstructive surgery on her face! For a 17 year-old girl who is not able to go to school because she helps her family, who make a living off a yogurt stand in Mexico, this blessings is huge!

Yet, as I sat there listening to Bethany tell me about the God she loved so much and was so passionate for, I could not help but forget about all her scars and the unfortunate plight of her life. All I could see was a beautiful girl, so spiritually rich....so full of a joy that can only come from God almighty. I was AMAZED! AMAZED!

She understood what it meant to be a citizen of heaven, a stranger in this world, a beloved child of the God of the universe. Like my friends Lauren and Tyler Maddox said in one of their blog post, we can see good people so misfortunate and poor in the eyes of this world, and think, "how unfair is that!!" (And maybe think too, how unfair is God). Yet, I'm telling you, this girl was SO FORTUNATE in the eyes of Heaven and had a spiritual wealth that we should eagerly aspire to have. She had it go'in on!!

Despite her financial and physical set backs, Bethany will soon be in training to be a missionary in Mexico. I'll never forget her words, " I just want the path he has for me...It's not about an emotion, its about passion for Him" How beautiful this life truly surrendered, truly anchored in the love of God.