Our new Volunteer Coordinator, Diane Smith, wrote the following after her first time doing visitation with HFH Founder, Mark Horrocks.

After visitation on Thursday I was a bit overwhelmed; it is a bit tough to see the reality of parents who are walking down the path of suffering with their child.
Friday morning I was just tired! I’m currently reading through Matthew in the Message. I read from Matt 14 where John the Baptist is beheaded. When Jesus heard the news, he tried to get away by himself but people saw him and came to him. He saw them and had pity on them and healed their sick. It got late, the people were hungry so the disciples told Jesus they should send them home. (I imagine they were tired and hungry too!) Jesus told the disciples to feed them. They said ALL we’ve got are five loaves and two fish. Jesus told them to give them to him. Jesus prayed, blessed, broke and gave the bread to the disciples. The people ate their fill and there were 12 baskets left over.
Here’s an excerpt of my thoughts after reading…

“This story moves me. It hits me so strongly this morning. This morning I am feeling overwhelmed. I imagine you [Jesus] looking at me and saying bring it here. Lord Jesus….I give my pitiful offerings to you, know that you alone can feed the souls that are hungry in my life. Only you can feed my hungry soul. Only you can feed the souls of my family, my neighbors, my co-workers. Forgive me for trying to live in my power. What you are asking me to do, leading me to do is IMPOSSIBLE without you. But with you all things are possible!! As my life passes through your hands…miracles can and will happen. You can provide the money. You can provide the time. You can provide the emotional energy. You can provide the words. It’s not me…It’s you through me. Thank you for living in me. Live through me today.”

I have a little boy a little over a year old, AJ. He is the cutest and funniest, most challenging 2 foot person I know. I always have to be on guard. If the pantry closet is open, he is pulling the food off the shelves. When I pull him out to close the door, he throws a two year old quality fit (notice he has not reached that age, yet). If I am typing, he is pushing my buttons. . . literally. No matter how many “no no” s or redirecting or hand slaps, he still will look right at me and push the nearest key on the computer.

But when he falls into the toy box and I rush to help him out, or when he trips over the puppy’s paws and hits his head, or has a 102 fever, I am right there to see him through that trial and hold him until he is ready to play again. Sometimes he doesn’t know he is ready to play again. I will let go to let him walk on his own and he clings to me.  I have to show him things he is interested in and teach him how to play.

Isn’t this how our Heavenly Father is with us?  We constantly need hand slaps and redirection. He disciplines those he loves. But, when we are hurting and need to be carried, he is right there holding us and showing us, again how to live life.