I am seeing afresh that some of the greatest acts of love are seemingly small gestures filled with all the heart someone can give. Today, I received such a gesture.
As I have the joy to work with our three employment centers which are actually “fair trade”, people loving, Christ centered, garment factories where lives are more important that piece goods and the value of being a person is more significant than the lowest cost of production. We employ girls who were trafficked for sex. We give them a chance to do work and earn an honorable sustaining wage. Their smiles are precious. I swear I will burst with joy when one looks up from her machine and smiles as I walk through the sewing room and says, “Hello, sir”. No matter how many times I tell them to drop the “sir” they say it every time. They are grateful for the rescue, restoration and now reintegration that the Lord has brought them through AIM.
Today, I walked through with my old tattered rice bag that I use for protecting my things from the incredible amount of dust. The picture and the sound are the same every time, “hello sir, hello sir, hello sir”, each one lifting their head from their work to greet me with a smile. I reached the office and went through some business matters with the great team that really does all the work. As we concluded, I noted the tattered rice bag. One of our staff jumped to her feet and headed to the sewing room. She was going to have a new bag made for me right then, right there, right now. I was a bit embarrassed. In a minute or so she returned and said she would have it in the morning. I was still amazed and very grateful. We concluded our meeting and I headed back across the factory sewing room to leave. Then I heard it, “Sir, sir, sir” then again, “sir, sir, sir” as four ladies literally raced across the floor to catch me. In their hands was a new bag. 
They were so pleased to make that gift for me. So pleased to stop what they were doing that made money and make something for me. Oh, if I could show you their smiles. For safety we cannot display pictures of these girls but let me tell you, they were precious. They used what God has recently given to them, skill and love. They made a gift for me.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1:17 ESV)”
And I treasure my new bag. This simple black bag made expressly for me by precious people who are seeing for the first time in their lives that God loves them and has a way for them. This is a special gift to me – very special.
Thank you for gifts that sent us and keep us here. I may have received the bag but you too receive from the Lord for the part you have played in the work we do.