Chinear was one of the first new words I learned upon coming to this country. It’s most commonly used to describe a person saying they are chineado, and I never looked the word up, but somehow concluded that it’s closest translation would mean, “to spoil,” or that a person is, “spoiled.”
One evening, when a very kind couple was giving me a ride home from church, we stopped at the man’s parents’ house. We played a few games of pool, they fed me dinner, made conversation, and taught me more about Costa Rican culture.
Before they dropped me off that evening, I made sure to say, “Thank you for everything, I feel very ‘chineada,’” which was a leap of faith, since I still hadn’t looked up the definition of the word yet.
The husband responded and said, “Well, thank you for allowing us to chinear you. Because really, chinear doesn’t mean spoil in a bad way- really it comes from being very well taken care of. And for us, it’s a pleasure to take care of you well, because we know, that back in the US, your mom is probably worried about you and praying that you would have someone around you who could chinear you while she is so far and can’t. So really, we are glad to be able to spoil you.”
……………..……………Flash forward to TWO WEEKS AGO…………………………………
Long story short, we were on vacations, and I was lucky to not have too much work to do. But I was feeling pretty sorry for myself. My little sister had gone to the beach with her friends, and I was feeling the recent loss of my current closest friends, as the two I would normally call had just moved to other parts of the country for family or internships. Near the last day of vacations, everything had culminated, and I felt at the point of tears of having “wasted” my vacations! I sat on the couch, trying not to cry, and said, “Okay, God, I’m going to go out- just to the mall, but I have to do something. If you want to send me an angel, a random stranger to smile at me, or just remind me of your goodness, I would really appreciate it!”
For the next couple of days, I was aware of him showing me his goodness in small, but true ways. Random things- a group of old friends calling, the shower having hotter water again, a random invite to lunch after church, a returned text message, a whole chapter of a book read, good coffee, nice weather, and finally, some new friends offering me a ride to young adults group. I was in Heaven, to have been offered a seat in the car with these very cool new people who I hope to get to know better. And when we all walked in, and sat down to worship, I reveled at God’s goodness.
A few silent tears rolled down my cheeks, as I said, “Wow, God, you really have been chineandome… and not because I deserve it or anything, because I don’t! But just because I asked.”
And with my eyes closed, I saw God in the kitchen of my apartment, wearing his house shoes, and with a pan of fresh cookies in his hand… A little bit of hurt, across his face. “Well of course! Rosie, how many times do I have to tell you? How many more ways can I show you? I want to spoil you- I enjoy spoiling you! Even when you’re cranky, even if you’re in the depths of despair… You don’t want to talk right now? That’s fine, I’ll go run you a bubble bath. Take your time. I’ll have your bed made and the sheets pulled back for you when you’re ready.”
He’s our father, and he loves to spoil us. He knows our love languages, he pays attention to our details… And it’s never too much to ask. There’s never strings attached. He never doesn’t have enough time for us… Rosie, stop doubting your father’s love!
And the past couple of days as well, He’s spoiled me in so many other ways… all the ways that I’ve needed…
It’s better to go through life with awareness and expectation of his spoiling. He is God, the great spoiler.