Many times, when we ask what rooms the orphans are in, the nurses will just shake their fingers at us and say "nu avem" (we don't have). Even though we KNOW they have kids. Sometimes we can literally see the orphans through the window, but oh no- "nu avem."
Why would they say that? Sometimes it's because they don't want the kids to cry when we leave. But even more often than that- it's because they just mopped and they don't want footprints on their wet mopped floors. So, the children go unvisited. It's "nu avem" and a shaking finger.
Obviously it's wrong. Obviously it is infinitely more important that a child without family or friends has someone who will come and visit them than that the floors get a few footprints down one side of the hallway. Yet- the nurses who mop the floors want their coworkers to admire their clean floor, and they don't want American girls messing that up for them. So, it's "nu avem" and a shaking finger.
There's definitely a bigger and greater analogy to that. It made me think-
Do I hide orphans behind mopped floors?
Obviously I don't. But- when I say orphans- I mean- are there greater needs in my life- people who need loved, a friend who needs to be listened to, educational things I should take the time to learn, but I don't because I don't want any "footprints" on my floor?
And by footprints- I mean- the time to sit down and talk with that friend, or maybe that friend annoys me and I don't really like them and don't want to be their friend even though they need one, or maybe I am too afraid of what they would think if I shared my religious beliefs with them, or maybe I feel too lazy to take the time to learn something right? Or maybe footprints are things other people see that would be sacrifices to make if I were to take the time to actually do what is more important. Maybe I would have to sacrifice my status in a group of people to help someone not seen as "cool". Maybe I would have to miss the big end of semester ward Christmas party to help them study for a test. Maybe I wouldn't have time to curl my hair and look fabulous for church because I'd be making them breakfast. (Haha. I never have time for curling my hair anyway. I like sleeping in way too much. :) )
Maybe I am like Martha, too busy in the kitchen trying to make an impressive meal for the Savior, that I never take the time to be content to be known as the hostess who just served bread and water, so I could take the time to sit and talk with Christ.
It's worth thinking about. Do you hide orphans behind mopped floors?
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