Little Danielle spent the first seven years of her life alone on a filthy mattress in a hot Florida room, surviving on milk, dressed only in a filthy diaper, surrounded by roaches and maggots. She had never seen the sun, never had a lullaby sung to her, never been hugged nor held! Medical tests of her hearing, vision, and brain functions revealed nothing wrong, yet the little girl could not walk, talk, or communicate. When she looked at you, it wasn't really to connect; she just looked through you. Experts said she had been deprived of basic love for so long, her brain had not developed during the critical first five years of her life. They held little hope that Danielle would ever progress or learn, at all.
Enter Bernie and Diane, a couple in their late 40's, he a carpenter, she a house cleaner. They had grown children and one son at home and hearts full of the love of God. And, despite the warnings of the difficulties, they took Danielle into their home, adopting her as their daughter on Easter weekend in 2007. It's been difficult beyond description! Tears and fatigue are part of this love story in huge measures. And yet, the love of God is there and where He is invited, there is "life abundant!" Today Dani eats by herself, responds to words, goes to church, and knows what love is. Is she whole? Not by a long way, but she is loved and despite the dire predictions is making progress.
See a gallery of photos of Dani and her new family by clicking on this line.
Disciple, do you understand the power of love- given and received? Are you ready to love radically, to give away the safety and comfort of your life to embrace others, to care enough to go beyond polite exchanges of pleasantries?
Here's a word from the Word. Ponder it in the light of Dani's story. Then ask, "Lord, love through me - specifically, deeply, freely, sacrificially!" Such love will change everything.
"If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.
If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. "Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me. If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs.
And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded."(Matthew 10:37-42, NLT)
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