Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
We have been in Romania for a week now and I have fallen in love with this place once again. A little over a year ago I spent a month here in this same village. I knew last time that Romania held a special part of my heart and I feel blessed to be back here.
The thing about the Gypsies is they love without holding back. The second you step foot in this village you are family and they would give their life for you. They have taught me how to love in a way I never knew how. They love the way Christ loves us.
Beni is a six year old gypsy boy that lives in the house we are staying at. His father is a local pastor and our ministry partner here. The way Beni sits in my lap, calls me his girl, and just wants to spend time with me blesses me. You see Beni loves without fault. I think that’s why God told us to become like children, because they love unconditionally and with innocence. That’s the only way he knows how. Today during worship Beni came over and sat in my lap. He was quiet and still and just wanted to be around me. He kissed me on the cheek. It allowed me to feel God’s heart a little.
Sandu is the pastor we are working with. Sandu is one of the most passionate men of God I know. When he talks about the gypsies his passion comes pouring out. He loves the gypsies without fault and would give his life pouring into them. Sandu is a great example of love. The little money he does get his gives away to the people of this village. He says that his life is not his own and his money is not his own, it’s God. He gets it.
God is showing me how important love his. That’s why he talks about love so much in the bible. It is convicting knowing that when I get caught up in the business of life I forget to love. My life gets so routine and I don’t love. My big prayer is that I love without holding back ,that we as a body learn to love unconditionally and spur each other on to greatness. Let us use the gypsies as an example to that love.