This devotion was originally shared in 2014, and is presented in its original format.
Whenever I have an opportunity to be around Habitat for Humanity families, I am reminded of three things that are the foundation on which our lives are built: faith, hope and love.
In my recent visit to Ethiopia, I had the privilege of visiting an incredible project aimed at integrating leprosy-affected people and their families into communities. The story of love shared among homeowners was a vivid expression of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
Stigmatized by society, leprosy-affected people become outcasts and are forced to beg for a living. The husband and only breadwinner of the family I visited fell sick and could not go out and beg for a few days; therefore his family, a wife and 4-year-old daughter, had no food to put on the table. Seeing their challenge, the neighbors brought them food and gave them a little money to get through this difficult time. The Habitat homeowner could not believe the love and care extended to his family. They were not only accepted, but embraced by the rest of the community.
I am humbled by the lessons we learn from the people we encounter on our journey with Habitat — lessons of love, faith and hope, which bring us closer to the spirit of this holy season. Easter is the main Christian holiday in the Orthodox Church in both Ethiopia and Romania, where I come from. During Easter, we are reminded that the Crucifixion was not the end of the story. The Resurrection is the completion of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross to save us from our sins.
It was God’s great love for us that led Jesus to the cross. Even as Jesus prepared for that agonizing moment, He also sought to prepare the disciples for what was ahead. His commandment in John 13:34 to love one another is also a crucial message for us. Love for one another is the reason homeowners share with each other, and it is the focus of volunteers, donors and staff members who are committed to the vision of eliminating poverty housing. Let us be reminded of God’s love and the way we can share it with others around us.
Laura Ferent is director, Organizational Development and Culture, at Habitat for Humanity International. She is based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
