Why losing my hair is a blessing!

     During our lunch break today a group of young girls came and started to talk to me in Spanish. They asked if they could play with my hair – a daily request amongst the children we meet each day during evangelism. I took my hair out of it’s braid and the delighted exclamations came instantaneously as a dozen hands hit my head all at once!
     These young children told me how long and beautiful my hair was as they practiced putting it in braids, twists and knots. They pulled my hair tight and ruthlessly tugged at it to make it do what they pictured in their mind. Handfuls of hair fall from my head each day and it is so tired and filled with split ends… and yet the smiles and connections with these young girls is worth every second and every new hairdo I walk away with each day.
      Today one of the girls said in Spanish, “Wow, your hair is so long. It’s a blessing from God.” And I couldn’t agree more! I told her my hair was a blessing from God and even more so that my life is a blessing from God. I was then able to share with them how I was a missionary for God and share with them how much God loves them. It was such a sweet and beautiful conversation.
      Throughout this journey I’ve had to make several sacrifices both big and small: leaving my home and friends and family, releasing control over what I eat and where I sleep, living in the unknown of what comes next, living for a year in countries that don’t speak my first language and oftentimes losing my hair. But with every sacrifice, God has shown up and brought incredible blessings. My hair is a beautiful unexpected blessing as it is a tool to reach and connect with young children all over the world! The Holy Spirit uses my hair each and every day to allow me to be a vessel of God’s love to these communities.
     There is nothing I am doing in these spaces aside from being willing and saying yes. I don’t have to do anything but say yes. God does the heavy lifting and will bless our yes. He knows our hearts and how He created us and He will use us to build His Kingdom and fulfill His purpose as we partner with Him and give Him our yes.

      I want to encourage you that you don’t need to come up with a grand plan in order to serve and glorify God. You don’t need to clean yourself up or prepare in any special way before you can come before Him. He just wants your yes, His plan is always better than anything we could come up with anyhow!

Matthew 11:29-30
“Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”