Its amazing how our Father meets our needs. He has promised to always provide for us, and I believe that means not only the basic things we need to survive but ALL our needs. And sometimes He does it in the most unexpected ways.

The children we have been working with in the village have many needs, from the most basic needs like food to deep emotional needs and everything in between. And one of the needs so many of them have is the need for parental love. These children are often abused, neglected and exploited by their parents and they crave the kind of love most of us take for granted. Bedtime stories, cuddles and intimate conversations just are not a part of their lives. Back to that in just a moment.

I feel blessed that I have a great deal of love to give. I love kids and take great joy in showing them that love. But there is also a pain in my heart. I am a mother but I do not get to do any mothering. My stepdaughters have a wonderful mother and while they enjoy spending time with me when we can, they do not need another mother. And my own children have been called home to Jesus. I am a childless mother and one of my needs is to have the chance to be a mother to someone.

This week, our gracious Heavenly Father has chosen to meet both the childrens' need and mine in one situation. He has given them a small amount of the mother's love they need so much by giving me the chance to mother them for a short while. This week I have given countless cuddles, kissed dozens of booboos, listened intently to stories I couldn't understand but wanted to hear anyway, and reached down with tears of joy in my eyes to pick up a little boy who was reaching up to me and saying momma.

These priceless moments do not take away the realities of the harsh life these children lead. They do not bring my children back to me or fill that void in my life. But I think for all of us the need is now a little less sharp and there is more hope of what can happen in the future.

I know my Father loves me, and He loves those children and I stand in awe of how He shows it.