Human.

Nothing makes you feel more human than throwing up in front of someone else. 

It was a Saturday. Saturdays at Angel House are like gold because everyone is home from school. This Saturday was special because everyone is home from school. This Saturday was special because we were supposed to celebrate my birthday. Another volunteer and I made cookies for the kids... they had never had them before. 

We went out to Angel House early and helped with corn harvest. The plan was to celebrate my birthday in the afternoon. I was sick, I had a cold, but was still insistent on helping with harvest. 

We harvested all morning, then the kids took their tea break, washed their clothes (by hand), and ate lunch. I assisted with whatever I  could, but had started to feel very nauseous. I tried to wait it out, hoping the feeling would go away. The kids were looking forward to celebrating my birthday; they knew we made cookies for them, and I didn't want to disappoint them by postponing. 

The feeling continued to get worse, so I decided to go home to rest, but it was too late. I started throwing up while waiting for my ride to come. I was at the edge of the Angel House property, so I hoped no one would see me, but of course, one of the high school boys walked by. 

I was completely embarrassed. But he reacted better than I ever could have expected. He looked at me, asked if I was ok, picked up some dirt, and burried my vomit. He didn't look disgusted; he didn't look at me like I was terrible. He reacted like it was completely normal. It turned what could have been a completely shame-filled experience into one of compassion.

I learned a lot from that interaction:

1. Listen to your body. 

2. Know your limits.

3. In the midst of struggle, I didn't want to be looked at with pity. I just needed to hear that I was ok, that I was normal. Rather than feeling shame, I felt loved because of the way he responded to me. 

4. Situations can either be made worse OR redeemed and healed all because of how they are responded to.