Have you ever visited Compassion International’s website? You should check it out.
The other night, I grabbed my laptop, said a prayer, and entered “compassioninternational” into my browser.
One of the benefits of downsizing is that it frees up cash for us to be able to help others. From the beginning, I knew I wanted to sponsor a child through Compassion International.
So I logged on.
I clicked the link to sponsor a child and my computer screen was filled with pages and pages of thumbnail photos of children who need a sponsor. It was too much. How does a person choose just one child to help?
How was I supposed to choose?
My son sat near me on the couch, and I turned the monitor toward him. “Help me,” I said.
“I can’t look at it,” he said.
“Why not?” I asked.
“Because,” he said. “How do you choose?”
“Exactly.”
“Maybe they can pick for you,” he said.
I leaned in closer to the screen and let my eyes scan the page. Yes. There was a link: “select a child for me.” I clicked it. It was a faith thing.
There was no way I could have known which child was the one God had for us. I could never have picked her out among the hundreds of photos of beautiful children who need someone to tell them they can make it. And not just say it, but show it.
But soon, I received an e-mail, telling me the child chosen for us is a six year old girl, who lives in India. Her name is Sanno.
When I saw Sanno’s picture, for the very first time, the strangest thing happened. My heart skipped a beat. That’s the best way I can describe it. I looked at her and knew we had been chosen by God for each other. Instantly, I loved her. I love her. It’s a faith thing.
And there was one more thing that made me clap my hands and do a little dance. It’s not something anyone at Compassion could ever have known. It’s a small thing, and at the same time it’s an awfully big thing. Because it tells me God is at work. God is smiling, too. God is going to something amazing for Sanno and for us.
Sanno? Well, it means something to us here. Have you ever heard that name before? I have. Sano is the name we call my mother.
Imagine that.
