Panama: A Father to the Fatherless

“And life is more beautiful now that I’m with You,” their voices filled the barren basement room, “You’ve filled my soul and fixed my heart.” The voices of 50 young orphan girls singing these words brought tears to most everyone’s eyes. There was no music, but none was needed. As the song ended, their soft crying could be heard once again. Some of the girls clung to each other, attempting to hug the pain away.

Before they sang this song, we had wheeled Nick into a basement room and they were all lined up against the wall. He spoke words of love… of encouragement. He assured them that God was their Father, even though they had no earthly father. He promised them that God was their comforter… that God was their healer. He paused and took his time looking at each of them, “I love you, but more importantly GOD loves you.” At this, sobs ruptured around the room. My heart broke imagining the experiences they had lived through for the words “I love you” to elicit such a reaction.

Then… then, they sang for us. They sang for God. They sang of comfort and joy. Of hope. Of love. They sang loudly and they sang beautifully. Tears blurred my vision more than once.

“I’d like to hug you… all of you. I don’t care how long it takes. I want to cry with you. I want to pray with you. So, if its okay with the staff, I’d like each one of you to come up, one by one… take your time hugging me,” Nick said after the beautiful song.

And so they came. One by one. Some in their later teen years, others barely ten. One by one. Some sobbing with such pain, I had to look away. Others, with simple, detached hugs. I’m not sure which was more painful to watch. And though they were the ones with arms, Nick definitely held them. His love embraced and comforted them so clearly.

You really don’t need arms and legs to love God and to love one another.