Least of the least

I was holding Alice. She is one of the cutest little girls I’ve ever seen—huge brown eyes, gorgeous skin and a smile that would melt anyone’s heart. As we were laughing and playing, it’s as if I heard God whisper to me, “The least of these.”

I thought: “Yeah God, the least of these. I’m here on a mission trip with orphans in Mexico—the least of these. I’ve got it.”

But then the Lord nudged me and seemed to say: “No, the least of these. The least of the least.”

I looked up and saw Selene sitting up against a wall in a corner by herself. Selene is a 13- year-old girl with dwarfism and some obvious mental disabilities. She doesn’t talk, she only makes grunting sounds and cute little squeals and giggles. None of the other kids really play with her, and she often wanders around alone.

I walked over and sat down with her and gave her a hug. She immediately began to show me her treasures—a crayon, a pencil, and an old bottle cap. She was holding on to those things like they were the most precious toys ever. I started to love on her and run my fingers through her hair, which wasn’t very clean at all. God was beginning to show me his love for people—his true and pure and perfect love.

After lunch, we were playing in the common room where we all ate. I was sitting on the floor with Selene, and we were just being together. I noticed she had something in her hand, a small fruit seed of some kind, and we started playing a little game of “Which hand do you think it’s in?” She was giggling and having the time of her life. There were a jillion other adorable kids around, but I was so perfectly content in that moment with her, and I started crying. I saw the face of God in her distorted but beautiful little face. She had an infectious smile. I knew I was loving Jesus as I was loving her. I was hugging and kissing Jesus when I hugged and kissed Selene. I found my “least.”

Allison Banks, a student at West Texas A&M University, recently served in Mexico with Go Now Missions.