A Priceless Gift

Through my time at the Marylebone Centre, I have had the chance to discover a world that I didn’t really know before. I mainly work in the Rough Sleepers’ drop-in which means that I get to know the women and their situations, their difficulties, sometimes with family or friends and how homelessness is a daily struggle where you need a lot of patience and hope.

Some women I have met have impressed me by the faith they keep in God despite their difficulties and their struggles, saying: “God is the only one I can rely on. My friends, my family – they all disappointed me, but He is still here.” They have been for me a real encouragement to rely on God, to have so much patience and hope.

It also urges me to be so grateful for people and belongings I have. I realise how much I have been blessed with my native country, my family, my friends, the fact that I can eat and that I know where I’m going to sleep. Sometimes, it feels really unfair and it makes me ask a lot of question to God. Those questions are still there and I don’t really have answers but I remember how big the gift from God is and how hopeful His promise is that one day Christians will have a completely safe and joyful environment through the salvation given by Jesus. Not only a hope but also a faith to live daily, now: love from God to share.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away… And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13)

I have had the chance to share my faith daily in action and sometimes in words, through love. My faith helps me a lot when it’s about keeping calm and showing love – such things I wouldn’t feel able to do by myself. It reminds me that beyond all these differences on earth, we all have the same chance to get to know God and what He did for us. Finally, even if we struggle with it sometimes, it’s a priceless gift which is going to endure for eternity and that is worthy for us to share.