too little words in the english language

i can't sort enough clothes. i can't make enough peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. i can't give enough hugs. i can't listen to enough heart-wrenching stories. i can't tickle enough little kids. i can't chase enough kids. i can't listen enough to the sound of laughter. i can't unload enough vehicles with supplies--food, clothing, toys. i can't make enough funny faces, make enough funny noises. i can't cry enough when they, too, are crying. i can't see enough little smiles when i walk into the room. i can't feed enough people. i can't find enough hours in the day to sleep, when so many people are without beds.

oh the stories i have heard in the last four days. it brings tears to my eyes even now. to have stories told to me. to have men and women look into my eyes and tell me their tales. i will never be the same. and this goes without saying: they will never be the same.

the joy. oh the joy i have seen in the last four days. amongst the tears and the pain and the fear, there is the purest joy i have ever witnessed. the joy of a pair of shoes. the joy of a car seat for a seven month old baby boy named christian. the joy of a new two bedroom apartment for a family of eight after sleeping two nights in their four door saturn--all eight of them. the joy of a new stuffed animal--her only one now. the joy of running around on a playground outside. the joy of a hot meal. the joy, my joy, of a two and a half your old, my new friend tre, taking my hand and dragging me away saying, "miss lindsay play with me at park. park. park. please, park."

this, i was made to do. and i will wake up tomorrow and go and do it again. and again. and again. until there isn't anything left in my power to do.

praise God for inhuman strength in my poor, human body. praise God that sleep is an after thought. praise God for placing incredible, strong, brave men, women, and children in my life. for opening my eyes, for giving me a little shake, for the encouragement to keep going, and the patience to know i can't do everything--that i am small, but God is so big.