Magdalena

Today was a very interesting day....


As a full-time children's pastor working at a church downtown of a big city, sometimes you get ...well...let's just say....some interesting people stop by the church during the week. In my nearly 3 years (has it been that long already?) today will be one of the most memorable days of my time working here. I've had people ask me if they could go through our garbage wanting something to eat, refusing a free hamburger from Frisch's. I've also had the same person ask me 3 times in 3 separate occasions using the same excuse if they could borrow jumper cables or money for their car that was miles away, but really all they wanted was money to buy drugs. I guess they forgot that they had already tried to scam me before?


But today, today was different.


Her name was Magdalena. I absolutely will  not put her in the same category as those written before her because, for some reason despite what she looked like, i think i actually believe her. Magdalena was born in Hungary, with a thick Hungarian accent, around 50 years old, and didn't really have a problem showing off her body. She came in wanting to talk to Pastor, but seeing as he was gone doing errands, i truly had the privilege of talking to her. 


She told me a story about how when she was younger, about my age, she was in her room when an angel came to the foot of her bed asking her if she wanted to go to heaven. So ofcourse, without hesitation she said yes. She described it so beautifully. She explained how when she was there, she felt nothing but joy, peace, and love. She felt nothing of the flesh, just pure love. She didn't want to leave but God wasn't finished with her yet on earth. She went on to say that while she was in heaven, God had her feel honored. She asked Him why He made her feel honored because she hadn't done anything to be honored for. His answer was because everyone, no matter who you are, are honored. It doesn't matter if you lived in a ditch or in a palace- you will be honored in heaven. We are not just a body, we are made in God's image. 


She also went on to say that it really hurts God's feelings when we look in the mirror and say that we aren't pretty. It hurts Him because He created us in His image, He designed us. It's an insult to say to yourself that you don't like yourself. 


Though she was loud, dancing around in our office, and so passionate about God, with a first glance you'd think she was some crazy person, but... i don't know, she was different. It's like she didn't care about what others thought about her, all she cared about was what God thought about her, and how she needed to share this story with others. That God loves you so much and that He wants you to not only love Him, but to also love yourself, inside and out-and not in a conceited way. He wants you to look in the mirror and say, "Hello, beautiful! I am made in His image and i am beautiful!"


Magdalena, i know you will never read this, but i encourage you to keep being loud, go ahead and dance in front of complete strangers, go ahead and be yourself. Because God created you and you have a beautiful story to tell!