Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13
On Wednesday, the team served that morning the people of Lita at the Liebenzell Center before returning to Ibarra and Otavalo that afternoon. We set up our four tents in the large dining area, and saw about 100 people from all around the region.
One of the patients I saw was a 14 year old girl with cerebral palsy. Her mother had made the two hour journey early that morning, carrying her 50 pound daughter the whole way. The mother weighed 100 pounds, and understandably suffered from chronic back pain. She brought her daughter to see us that day with the express purpose of obtaining mebendazole to treat her daughter for parasites. As we examined the girl it was very evident that the mother loved her daughter greatly. She dealt with her daughter very gently and caringly. She smiled as we examined the girl, and expressed heartfelt thanks for the medication that was given.
As the woman secured her daughter onto her upper back with a blanket, I was reminded of Jesus’ comment to His disciples that a person can show no greater love to another person when they lay down their life. This means not only laying down their life by sacrificing their actual mortality, but also by living their life on behalf of the one they love. This woman’s love for her daughter struck all of us as a strong example of what Jesus was talking about.
I have heard it said that the greatest Christian who ever lived is someone most of us have never heard of. Although I do not know her name, I believe I saw that person this day. Her eyes were unforgettable.
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