What lies beneath a smile?

Today while our was sitting having breakfast in the dinning room, i was reminded again about how much i take for granted - even the privilege of being here on board this ship and how each day God is radically changing lives!

As i was sipping my coffee at 6.30 am this morning still feeling a little fuzzy around the edges after a night spent coughing and spluttering ( I am recovering from a bout of flu) I was feeling very sorry for myself realising that it was only Monday and the whole week lay ahead. I decided to look out the window to distract myself and was faced with the perfect reminder of just how wonderful our God is.

The line of patients at the Gangway had been forming since the very early hours of the morning, long before i got to breakfast and people were waiting patiently to be seen or admitted. When a young man, most likely in his early 20s arrived on a zemijan wearing a smile that you could see a mile a way. At first i wounded why he was here, was he one of our day volunteers or a visitor, not thinking for a moment anything more.

When the motorbike came to a stop at the end of the line the driver got off and held the bike, while the young many carefully eased himself off. It was then that i saw his left leg was badly deformed and could hardly hold the weight of his body. (As i looked at him i was ashamed of my own self pity that i started the day with.) As he balanced with help from his friend he proudly unwrapped a small suit case and out of a side pocket produced a small pink card!

The smile on his face only grew - the card that he held was an surgery appointment card whihc he would have recieved at Screening Day! Today he was being admitted and would receive surgery that would restore function to his leg but more importantly would give him 'a hope and a future'

'For I alone know the plans i have for you', declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'

Jeremiah 29 verse 11

Please pray for this young man over the next few weeks as i am sure this journey will be very painful, but it will be life changing for him! I thank God for the privilege of watching a small part of what he is doing in this young mans life and seeing what lies beneath his smile.