Last year on the Fourth of July, we picked up Renato on the street corner and took him to the rehab. He was the biggest mess you ever saw, with an eye swollen shut and open sores on his face. Someone had smashed his face with a cement block, as he was sleeping on the sidewalk. He was wearing a pair of raggedy shorts. That’s all.
Renato had two surgeries, for broken bones in his face and eye. Slowly he cleaned up and cheered up. He professed to be saved. He asked if he could call us Mom and Dad, because he doesn’t remember his parents and he’s never had anyone just for him.
Two months ago, the doctor that visits and helps at the rehab, hired him to work in his family’s pet store. Renato leaves the rehab at 5:00 a.m. and bicycles to work, about 5 miles away. He gets back to the rehab at 7:00 p.m.
Monday we stayed at the rehab till he got back from work. After hugs he asked us, “Do you know what this Thursday is?”
“Yes, filho, we know,” we said.
“It’s my one year anniversary! he said.
Renato is the reason why we are here. For one more soul like this, we pray every day. And go after them all like there is no such thing as failure.
I’m so thankful today for the absolute freedom found in Jesus Christ. Let freedom reign in our hearts and in our souls.
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