If my home was as big as my heart I would have a much bigger
house. I love having house guest! And although we have a large family my kids
love having house guest just as much as I do! Over the years we've had foster
children, a homeless lady, a college student, and minor league baseball players
stay with us. Each person having their own unique personality and things about
them that create memories for us, especially my little people!
Recently, we had a girl from Venezuela move in with us! How
does that happen? Last summer, her husband was one of the minor league baseball
players who stayed with us. She and I became friends over Facebook and we
corresponded with each other off and on over the summer. This year, she desired
to join him here in the states and was needing a place to stay.
But joining him in the states isn't the only desire she has,
she has a desire to make a life here. As Americans we can find plenty to
complain about in regards to our country. But if we lived in a government
controlled country where the price of food was more than our wages, where fruit
had become so expensive it was impossible to buy, and medicine was lacking the
issues we find here would seem small.
It's a big step to leave your family, go to a country where
the culture is totally different, and not currently speaking the language. All
of your belongings fit in a single suitcase and you're moving in with a family
you don't know. Not only are you trying to adjust to the newness, but
shortly after you arrive you are surprised to find out you're going to have a
baby. Now, you're dependent on this non-Spanish speaking American lady more than
ever. How isolated and scary it must feel.
By now you're probably wondering...Isn't all this awkward
for you? Isn't it uncomfortable having a stranger in your house? Not at all!
Well, how do you communicate? Verbally, through Google Translate. And here is
why I say verbally...
This past week, after being very sick for several days I had
to take our guest to the ER to get some fluids. As she laid in the hospital bed
I could tell she was miserable. I remember those days of my early pregnancies
and how miserable I was, but mine was nothing compared to hers. Everything was
piling up on top of pregnancy hormones, and she began to miss having her mother
and her husband who is currently away.
I found myself at a loss for words. I'm sure you've been
there before too. When someone you know has experienced a death or bad news.
You wish you had something to say to make them feel better, but you don't. I
told her, I call our relationship love without words. We don't know each others
language and the only way for me to primarily communicate is through my
actions.
Years ago a person’s word meant something, but not so much
today. It is very easy to make promises or say nice things however; I find that
genuine love comes out through actions. So, what if you were unable to verbally
communicate with those around you? What if the only way you could communicate
is through your actions? How do you make others feel? May we all strive to love
without words.
