Love Overflows

Lately, I have been finding these lyrics stuck in my head:

Love of God,
overflow.
Permeate,
all my soul

I love the word “permeate,” and I especially love it in this context. The word permeate means to pass into, or through, every part of something. What a wonderful thought it is to have God permeate all of my soul. To let him completely take over, and to let his love be so abundant that it overflows. Those lyrics cause certain memories in my mind to stick out; memories where God’s love has overflowed and permeated all of my soul. One of those memories takes place in Hyattsville, Maryland.

Last summer I went on a mission trip to Hyattsville, Maryland. Throughout that week, God was able to show himself to me in so many places and so many people I couldn’t possibly list all of them, but one memory sticks out in particular.

This mission trip was all about relationships. The work we were doing required us to connect and serve the people of the community we were going into. We got to spend the majority of the week with kids who ended up having quite the impact on all of us. But going into that week, I didn’t have much experience with kids, which caused a lot of worry to dwell in me. I was worried they wouldn’t like me. I was worried I would be awkward, or that I wouldn’t know what to say.

I prayed, and prayed, and prayed that God would help me with this. Before that trip, I volunteered to help some younger kids in my area and I absolutely loved it. God placed so much love in my heart for those kids, and by the time I was on my way to Hyattsville, I felt more prepared than I did before that summer had started. I was a bundle of excitement and nerves when the time came, but I had faith God was calling me to Hyattsville.

In Hyattsville, God pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I’m so glad He did. Outside of my comfort zone, I met a beautiful little girl. She was extremely shy at first, but so kind hearted. We would throw a football together every day, and she was much better than I was. As the week went on, she became less shy around me, and started to talk and initiate conversation. She was such a light.

She was also completely selfless. She always asked me what I wanted to do instead of thinking of herself first. I felt child-like around her. I can’t tell you how many ways God showed up in this little girl. At the end of the week, saying goodbye to her broke my heart. I wanted to leave her with something, so I gave her my pocket bible, and she looked at me and said, “How will I every repay you?”

I told her she didn’t have to, and that she was enough.

When she left that night, I told her I loved her, and she told me she loved me too. Then just when I thought she had walked away, she comes running back with an orange paper heart that had her address written on it. My heart was completely full in that moment even though she was leaving me because I knew God was with her, and I knew God was with me.

I mailed her a letter when I got home. I never heard back from her, but I knew that was okay. God has a plan for the both of us, and I feel so blessed I got to be a part of God’s plan for her, even if it was only for a few days.

My relationship with her reminds me of my relationship with God. My relationship with God started off shy. I never really knew what to say to Him, and I didn’t really know if I could trust Him or not. As time went on, I found things to say, and things to pray, and I started the process of learning to completely trust Him. Then I realized the gravity of God’s love for us, and how abundant and all consuming it really was. I asked God how I could repay Him for that love, and he said with my life. In response, I started living for Him.

And now, even when I start to walk away, God tells me He loves me, and I tell Him I love Him too. God loves us every day, and in every way. Nothing will ever separate us from that love.

Before I went to Hyattsville, I was worried the kids wouldn’t like me. Then God showed up, and worked in incredible ways. Those kids loved God, and through that love they were able to love me. And I loved them too; more than they will ever know.