I was desperate at the American Embassy in Johannesburg, not knowing whether I would make it to my daddy’s bedside in time. I had our adopted African Angel, Mmapula with me and there was a glitch with her immigration paperwork that set us back a few days. She was to become an American Citizen upon entry in the USA that trip. It was all planned, but not the fast deterioration of my father’s health.

Finally, we found ourselves on the plane.  I was to arrive in time. Daddy hung on a few more weeks after that.  We arrived in the USA and went through Immigration. At last, Mmapula was granted her citizenship as planned, upon entry.  We got through customs and I pulled her aside, put our bags down and told her that we had to take a photo because she is now an official US Citizen! The next thing I know, she is looking at me with that precious pout that only she can give. Tears welled up in her eyes, and with a hint of defiance she said, “But I thought I was going to be a Princess!”

 She just didn’t see the big deal of being a US Citizen!  You see, we were to go to Disneyland on this trip and we had been telling her that her birthday was going to be celebrated and she was going to be a princess.   Everybody knows, if you celebrate your birthday at Disney you are an official Princess! The day at Disney was spent in pomp and circumstance! We had lunch with all the Disney “Princess greats”.

 From the moment we arrived, for the entire day, people would come up to her and say, “Happy birthday Princes Mmapula!” At one point she whispered to me, “Mommy, how do all these people know it’s my birthday?” I didn’t have the heart to tell her that the big pin-on sign on her dress told all that it was indeed, her birthday!

The Psalmist, David, wrote about God’s incredible love for us, his children.  How wonderful that God counts us as his very own, every day. We are citizens of heaven, if we have accepted Jesus as our Personal Savior and been washed clean from our sins. We have an earthly passport and are citizens of somewhere. But no matter where we are from, we share the promise of Heaven! Like Mmapula, which means ‘one who brings blessing’, we can know what it is to belong to the Creator of heaven and earth!

Psalms 139:1-6

O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
² You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
³ You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
⁴ You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
⁵ You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!