Hands Lifted High

So two nights ago, we (me, Amanda, Gina and one of the aunties Cara) went to Grace Home. It is a boys home that was opened through Grace Fellowship Church for 50 of the street kids. That sounds good, but honestly it is not a nice home. The uncles there are under staffed and overworked; they steal from the boys and beat them. These kids get food for A.P.I because for awhile they were not getting fed. The only difference from the streets is that they have a daily meal, a bed, and a place to wash. We visited for a party, just to let the boys there do something fun. At one point, before we had a special meal for them, we did worship and a devotion. During the worship, all the boys gathered in a circle, and the Uncles picked one boy to lead the others in song. The boy they picked was probably 8, but very very small for his age. He stood in the middle, and in his little voice, with his hands raised high in praise, sang worship to our Father. Soon all of the boys were worshiping with their whole heart; hands lifted high, or on their knees. These kids have seen the worst that life has to offer. Most of them are under 13, and they have already been kicked out of their homes, beaten, sexually abused, and spit on by society. They have been told that they are unwanted, and unworthy. The love that Jesus offers them is truly the best news they could be given, and in it they place their hope. They are by no means perfect, and many of them are bad (they steal, hit, lie and cheat). But through it all, they know that their God has made them for His kingdom, and that by His sacrifice, they will be accepted without question. To see that faith, in such small kids who have been dealt such a poor hand in life, is absolutely incredible. It is a human but pure form of what our relationship with Jesus should look like; He loves us even though we are broken, and in return we offer Him all our praise.