She was a quiet girl, with a gentle spirit.
She was most content sitting in my lap, with my arms wrapped around her, which was certainly fine with me.
She smiled constantly.
She said it made her happy I was there.
She couldn't believe we came from Alabama on a "tour bus" to help them.
She was a girly girl.
She loved to fix hair and kept saying over and over "white hair is so soft".
She loved to sing.
She had never heard the song Jesus Loves Me.
Unbelievable, huh?
She wanted a song of her own to sing at home.
I wrote down the words to Jesus Loves Me on a piece of paper.
I taught her that song.
She said she would sing it, "Forever".
That made me smile.
I have never seen anybody more excited about getting a piece of paper in all my life.
Honestly, I have never been more excited about giving a piece of paper.
My youngest daughter, Kylee, had the privilege of telling her about Jesus and leading her to Christ.
I was so proud of Kylee for being bold in sharing her faith.
God is using her in mighty ways even at age 12.
She told Kylee she had to find me and tell me she asked Jesus in her heart.
She was worth every mile I traveled there.
She told me she never wanted me to leave her.
My heart broke.
She asked me if she could go back to Alabama and live with me and be my little girl.
What do you say?
I told her if I stayed in Virginia, my family would be very sad and as much as I would love for her to come to Alabama, I knew her family would be very sad if she left Virginia.
I told her to remember she always had a friend in Alabama.
That was the best I could do.
What I really wanted to do was scoop that baby up and bring her back to Alabama with me and raise her as my daughter and love on her forever.
She was precious.
I fell in love with this girl.
Her eyes literally lit up each time I told her I loved her.
She knew that was the truth.
She didn't come to Bible School our last night there.
I'm not sure why.
I walked the neighborhood looking for any sign of her.
I couldn't find her.
I expected to have one more night with her.
I didn't get to say goodbye.
I wanted to.
I hope 3 nights worth of love made a difference in her life.
I know it did mine.
=],
Oh how sweet! That is such a powerful story. So sad that you didn't get to see her on your last night there. How did you ever leave? That must have been so difficult. I hope she can still feel your love and your prayers for her and her family.
ReplyDeleteIt will make a difference in her life. She will never forget you. I have similar memories I carry with me of children 30 years later; they certainly can impact you. One ministry avenue you still have with her - prayer. You did a good work up there. wb
ReplyDeleteAWW that is so sweet.I'm glad you was able to have an impact on her life.And sometimes one little scrap of paper can go a very long way's.I bet she never forgets you.
ReplyDeleteWow, this post touched my heart. Praying the 3 days were life changing for her.
ReplyDeleteSome lives can just manage to reach right down into the centre of our heart and move in.
ReplyDeleteDo they do it when we aren't looking, when we don't have our defensive walls up or when we least expect it?
Who knows but isn't it worth every wound we get in the heart for risking such a relationship ... especially children.