Tonight, as I was getting ready to go to a friend’s for dinner, I was remembering a little girl, the Lord brought to me about 6 six years ago.  Actually, I had the blessing and privilege of knowing not only her, but her brothers and sister too.

In 2007, Bridge of Hope moved from a small room we rented at a church building, to a shop on 38th St. in City Heights.  One day, I saw a group of about 12 kids, walking up 38th St. pushing a stroller with a little eighteen month old girl in it.  I said hi to them, and them to me, as they walked by.  That happened everyday for about a week, until I yelled to them a couple questions about school, and they came over to talk with me.  That relationship quickly turned into something very sweet and real, as well as I became a supplier of food, water, clothing, toiletries, lots of hugs and love.
They always had their baby sister with them, but I never saw a parent.  After spending time with them, and showing them that I really care, they opened up to me that mom was in prison and they lived with their dad.  I quickly learned too, that they had no running water.  One day, I decided to bring a bunch of water to their home and quickly understood what the situation really was.
Dad was the father of five beautiful children, a gang banger, took care of himself and whatever lady he was with at the time. The children were left to themselves. The windows were boarded up, no electricity or running water. The children took care of their own needs, and each other, and survived the best they could. I left the house that day, sad, devastated and willing to do whatever the Lord had me to do.  It was a obvious God ordained relationship that I was being led into.

A very long story made short, I was blessed to lead the kids to the Lord on our driveway at Bridge of Hope, and baptize them in a friend’s pool.  I taught them the Word of God each week. I fed, clothed, prayed, and loved on them each day. Their family situation grew worse, but God was up to something. In and out of meetings with the school principals, CPS, court dates etc.  At times, it felt impossible for them to survive. But God

That is what leads me to tell of the time that we had our first Christmas celebration at Bridge of Hope . It was 2008.  We had about fifty kids come. There was a abundance of toys donated. Honey baked Ham had donated lots of food. It was so exciting!! The kids could not wait to jump in and attack those presents piled up everywhere.  But, one little girl, did not care about all the Christmas wrappings, or excitement in the air.    She did not see all the gifts. She was starving. Her sister walked her in, holding onto her little frame.  The little girl looked like a deer in the headlights.  I asked what was wrong. There was panic on her face.  She said, “Food”  Her older sister, 9 at the time, said, “she is hungry. you have to feed her now.” I knew by the look in her little 3 year old eyes, that this was serious.  I grabbled a plate, and piled it with potatoes and ham, she sat and ate as fast as she could. I held her, praying under my breath, and asked her to take her time. I told her there was plenty. There is always plenty. She calmed down and began to rest as her little belly became full.  She did eventually open her gifts, but it was clear, what the greatest gift was for her that day.  She had food in her body and felt peace.

Tonight, I had the awesome privilege of going to a close friend’s house for dinner. At the end of the dinner, her little girl asked me to close my eyes, and pick a scripture out of a box. Unknown to her, it was the very scripture that the Lord had been putting on my heart recently.  “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you.”  I was so blessed and touched that the Lord was speaking that to me again, through this precious little one.

That little girl, is eight years old now. She lives in a home with two loving parents, who have showered her with love, security, and all the best of God’s gifts.  That little girl is the little girl, that was starving that Christmas day, surviving without parents or security at one time. She is now kept , loved, cherished, and adopted.

But God