Life sounds

Life’s noises swirl, louder every day.

Houses to be built.

Mouths to be fed.

Bodies to be clothed.

Babies to be held.

Mothers to comfort.

Hospitals to visit.

Sickness to be treated.

Tears to wipe dry.

Tears to let fall.

Hope to be found.

So many sights to see, feelings to feel and sounds ringing… resounding through my soul.

Ten Thousand Homes, armed with 50 visiting volunteers, recently tried the never-been-tried-before. We rented three ginormous buses – and overflowed them with the children and the volunteers whose lives we enter every week through our feeding programs. This time, they were coming to our house!

And this time, they were to be treated as princes and princes of the King of Kings. It was TTH’s first ever Day of Royalty. And it was incredible.

We crowned 400 children and had nonstop fun for an entire day. Talk about SOUNDS!

Singing, dancing, face-painting, art, soccer, nail-painting, shield-making, movie-watching, Bible-acting and a delicious lunch feast…

Every child was dressed as royalty and took a picture at a photo booth. Most children don't even own a photo of themselves, so this is an extra-special treat!

Oh, and don’t forget the dunk booth…

Photo by Jen Price

At the end of the day, I asked some of our volunteers what their favorite moment was. One woman said she had asked one of the little girls what she liked about her princess day. The little girl responded, “It’s so quiet here. So peaceful.”

Quiet and peaceful.

Not exactly how I would have described the day.

So I started to wonder what her house sounds like.

What noises swirl around this little princess when she doesn’t have her crown on?

And can one day of hope-sounds affect the decibel of all the other sounds ringing through her perfectly-created body, mind and heart?

It has to.

Because He promised.

“For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come… For we live by faith, not by sight.”

2 Corinthians 5:4,5,7

I have to believe that little princess, basking in the peace of Royalty Day, wore that crown home as a banner for the promise of what’s to come…. For the heavenly clothing that’s coming and the worship-sounds that come with it.

For we live by faith, not by sight – or by sound.

That little princess heard hope beneath the noises. She went home clothed in hope and heavenly love.

I want those kinds of ears.

Let’s life-noises become a symphony of praise. 

Some children came needing an extra-loud song of hope

At least 80 children accepted Christ!!

25 watermelons!

800 hot dogs!

Royal toes