The Photos of Children

(Marci and George)

If you are a grandparent, likely you have a collection of wallet size photos of your grandchildren. The newest ones are always in your wallet or purse just waiting for the next person who hasn’t yet seen them. With a great deal of pride and joy you show them to all your friends as you share their latest feats or those “out of the mouth of babes” statements.


Not being a grandparent, I do the same thing as a doting uncle. I have two nephews and one niece. James the youngest of the nephews was my first. He is the son of my brother Michael and sister-in-law You Xia who live in Lexington, KY. James has an alias. He goes by Jack when we play spies. I see him mostly at family holiday celebrations. We always have a great time together.

George is the older of the nephews, but came after James. He is about a year and a half older than James, but they are about the same size. Just like grandparents sometimes mix up the names of their grandchildren, sometimes I call George James and vice versa. George is the son of my Kenyan friends John and his wife Susan who I know as brother and sister. George is a funny guy and loves to take photos.

Marci, my niece is now nine months old and beginning to crawl. She is George’s sister. She is very engaging and strong and she is quickly mastering the technique of twisting you around her little finger!

In my presentations to groups about my recent travels to Kenya and my ongoing mission collaboration with John and Susan, I’ve sprinkled a “few” pictures of George and Marci among the pictures in my slide show. If anyone’s attention is waning, I know I’ve regained their attention when I see them smile as the children’s faces appear on the screen.

There are other children’s faces in my slide show and all of their pictures were taken by George (my official photographer when I’m in Kenya). These are the orphans of Wendano Village that our ministry is touching. They are lovely children though sometimes their clothing or their facial expressions may try to hide this fact.

I’m praying that the photos of these children will engage my audiences even more so than those of George and Marci. I pray that they are taken into the hearts of the people in my audiences. I pray that the people will fall in love with these children and reach out in love to them. By helping to touch the lives of these children; by empowering them to be all that God calls them to be, we are reaching out to countless others whose lives they will touch. That’s the way love works. It is always reaching beyond itself. That’s the way God works too! Not surprising whey we remember that God IS love. (1 JN 4:8)