Babies, being useful, and serving Jesus

Another baby was born to the Romania Word Made Flesh community. Kira Wren made her appearance into the world last Sunday night here in Galati. She is beautiful and as some of you may know I am cautious about describing newborns this way. Yet I assure you she is very pretty. I have been so privileged to spend time taking care of her two big brothers while Kira and her mom Audra recovered at the hospital and her mighty father fought the dark battles of paperwork trying to free them from their captivity. He was determined, persevered and the powers that 'were' had no choice but to relent. The happy family is together again in their home. I was blessed to be a part of their miracle.
During this last exciting week many staff were elsewhere at retreats in Turkey, out of town, building houses, etc. And so the Servant Team found themselves feeling very useful for perhaps the very first time since our arrival. Useful being defined as they couldn't have done without us - and this felt good. We are helpful around here at other times as well but this last week it was nice to be really truly needed. It was a small trial run in what it will be like to have a job again, to be counted on, depended on. I kept checking to make sure that my heart had really learned to stay centered in Christ, in my identity being in Him and not in performance and praise. All my reflections concluded in the synopsis of baby steps.
I have been really reflecting on what it means to serve Jesus among the poor. I still am not really sure. I have read a few more books. I have had few more discussions. Spent even more time "serving" the poor. I had a conversation earlier this week were I was challenging the best practices and results of certain methods of social justice. I don't know if I was exactly wrong in my assumptions but I feel as though I may be missing the point a bit. This last Sunday one of my friends here made a point about serving Jesus among the poor. He quoted the verses from Matthew 25 that read,
"Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' 45Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these,you did not do it to me.'
And for just a moment I understood that whenever I forget myself and give with all my heart and all my love to another, especially those who are difficult to love - I am loving Jesus. I am loving His own hands, His own feet, taking care of His own wounds and hurts and needs. Last week I was able just for a moment or two to forget when I was washing the hand of one of our boys here. I adore him. Every time I see him he is a reminder, an icon, to me of another One. It is good for us to care for the poor because we are seeing and experiencing Christ more fully. Somehow it is just a mystery.