Hope Engaged: my husband, redeeming a view of men

{juuussstttt love him!}

One of the biggest and most beautiful blessings being here in Nepal has been watching my husband love on these sweet girls in the home.

If I ever had a grocery list for what I wanted in a husband,

somewhere on it would read “a love for children”.

check check.

I don’t know how he does it, but his incredible humility, humor and utter delight for life seems to attract even the most distraught of children.
And in this home, there is no exception.

But in this home, the girls are up against a lot more when it comes to men.

“men” doesn’t mean the same thing it might mean for us.

In a normal circumstance a man's presence is generally an every day occurrence that one thinks very little about.
If a man walks into a room, I am not frightened. No, I think very little of it and continue on in my business.

Often a man symbolizes protection, safety, and maybe some good humor.

When i'm walking the streets in a big city, like Kathmandu, Kevin's presence produces a sense of safety and well being for me.
{ie: he will kick butt if anyone tries to attack me}

but when you've been abused, sold, tortured, beaten, broken and bruised by a man,

every day,

for a long time,

a man's presence becomes a nightmare.

the very being that God created in his image has been perverted into something heinously evil.

something associated with a bleeding pain of agony that

defaces

devalues

and dehumanizes

a women...

a little girl.

and so that was what we were up against as we began receiving new girls in the home.

a view of man as the perpetrator, as the invader of all things innocent.

and rightly so.

I watched as Kevin gently kept his distance at first, allowing the girls space to feel free.

I noticed as he cracked jokes, and cheered at the girls success in every game we played.

I smiled when he made fun of himself so that the joke was on him, always.

And giggled hysterically when the girls taught him dance moves that he butchered.

and tears fell when I saw the walls began to fall.

there was a shift, and soon Kevin, in his tender, gentle and humorous ways

begin to shake the very notion of a man's presence in these girls lives.

from something evil, to something of redeeming worth.

because you can't fake love,

and when it's true and honest and real,

there is power to break the chains.

{one of the girls giving Kevin a birthday card!}

and i believe with all my little heart that God's spirit is using the unique gifts of Kevin to

vanguard the very essence of man...

the image of God.

that men can be patient, and kind, and protect things of value.

that men can be strong but equally loving and tender.

you guys, every moment I see
the girls get so excited to see Kevin,
or beg to play games with him,
or laugh when he tries hot peppers from the garden,
I am reminded how far they've come,
and how much God has done!

a few weeks ago kevin decided to make bracelets for the girls.

i'm not gonna lie...my hunky husband is not the crafty type.

so it took me by surprise {to say the least}

and that morning he made 5 bracelets,
and to see the smile on those girl's faces when they received them
made me a bit misty.

the girls love him.

and even more, they trust him.

and it is beautiful.
beautiful redemption.

so thankful to be married to a husband that allows God to use him,
and thankful for a God that chooses to
somehow,
in someway,
use us.

happy weekend friends!

love Katie