Recently, my wife and I had to take our daughter, Madelynn, to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, TN due to her seizure disorder. We were there almost all week. During our stay we had the opportunity to be ministered to by the organization, Habitat for Hope.

This organization, founded by Mark and Mylissa Horrocks, provides relational support, lodging and meals to families who have short and long term hospital stays in the Memphis area. When we were there I think we only bought two meals the whole week and we always had a place to rest our head. They have created a whole network of volunteers throughout the city who will take time out of their day and money out of their pockets to hang out with families in local hospitals and bring them meals. Their volunteers served with excellence and passion. It was truly remarkable. They never just dropped food off and left like they were in a hurry. They sat with us, shared our pain and offered encouragement. Without their support it would have been a lonely week because we don’t know anyone in the Memphis area.

Mark frequently reminded me that the lodging and meals are not the primary focus of the ministry. They are tools that enable them to create relationships with families during potentially difficult times in their lives. This notion continues to challenge me greatly.

For the ministries and acts of service, both inside and outside the church, in which I am involved is my focus on building meaningful relationships or on building successful organizations, tools, systems and structures? I think it is so easy to lose sight of the “point” of such ministries and in doing so lose the opportunity to truly show the love of Jesus to those the ministry intends to reach. Where is your focus?

Last night, the kids and I watched a short piece on 60 Minutes called “The Lost Children of Haiti”. Beautifully done, it touched on the issues that orphanages in Haiti are now facing, as well as the plight of Resteveks, child slaves in Haiti. The concern is that with the vast number of kids that can’t find their parents, child slavery will greatly increase.

Just as compelling was the story of Jean-Mark, son of Haitian pastor Moise Vaval. Vaval is the country director for Global Orphan Project. Shortly after the earthquake, Pastor Moise realized his son was missing. He also had a destroyed orphanage with hundreds of needy children to tend to.

Pastor Moise said two things in the piece that really stuck with me. When asked how he was dealing with the fear and concern regarding his missing child, he said, “’I never worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will be good, because its in God’s hands.” Because I was watching this on TV, you could clearly see the love and concern for his dear son in his eyes. His response was not born out of shock or trauma. It seemed to pour from his heart.

Sadly, they did find Jean-Mark, and the Vavals were able to bury their son. Pastor Moise said, “I was able to bury my son – which is a grace from God since so many others can’t”. Again, a response that has to born from a deep connectedness to the heart of Christ.

Having looked just the thought of death in the eye with my own child, I can admit that my response was not as Holy as Pastor Moise’s. I hope and pray if my family experiences tragedy�once again, that we can respond as gracefully and with as much compassion as this dear family. How about you?

Watch the full video here.