As many folks back at home start one of my favorite holiday celebrations (yes, as a kid moving to the U.S. Thanksgiving was like two Christmas dinners in the same month, who wouldn't LOVE that?!) I feel a daunting sense of the year coming close to an end. Classes this semester haven't been nearly as successful as in the past and I feel the agony that I've failed myself, and that I am losing an imaginary scholarship which surely (in my mind) will no longer be there upon my return. As I grow weary of my stay in Mexico in academic aspects (and a desire to be back, to in my mind really start and stay in the place I'll graduate from and will be the jumping point of the rest of what I'll do in Biology) God showers me most abundantly with good people here and humbles me to see that there's a gorgeous aspect of my person that also blossoms outside of my own frantic tearing down of self in academics. To that I stand with an open arms gesture, yet still in a cautious trust but knowing FULL well that there is something most beautiful that happens in the middle of chaos..always.
And so the gift (the small wooden cross, imprinted with the label "Jerusalem" at the back) was given to me the day after my 20th birthday by a woman who in the past few months has been crazy enough to take on the responsibility and task of joining me in a bit more closely in God's conversation with me and perfecting the WiFi signal so to speak. A Handmaid of Christ King sister's gesture touched me deeply (and the authentic candies from Spain were also such a treat, praise God for pilgrimages and travel!) and I felt that God brought me to such caring and loving place, to such loving and caring people... He has treated most tenderly this "orphan" of His who arrived in Mexico nearing two years ago now and whatever hurt, and bruising may also have occurred in this interlude all is well, all is good, all is Love...
....As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15: 9...)
