We completed the first phase of our clothing project on Tuesday, so on Wednesday we were assigned one of the children in the homes to work with for the rest of the week.
The little girl that I got paired with – we’ll call her Trinity – is blind and also has some learning disabilities. She can walk a little with help, but not for very long and she doesn’t speak yet.
The physical therapist asked me to focus on helping her walk -going up and down stairs to build up her muscles and also just spending time with her and giving her the attention and love she normally wouldn’t receive.
I asked the Lord to give me His love for this little daughter of His, took her hands, and started to help her walk.
When she was too tired to walk any more, I sat her down in my lap and just spent time with her. I sang her songs, prayed over her, played with her, and told her how much Jesus loves her.
About an hour into our time together she still wasn’t very responsive, so I kept praying.
Then it happened.
She looked at me like she could actually see me and smiled. A big shining smile that spoke more than a thousand words.
My heart exploded.
In that moment I felt like the barrier that had been between us came crumbling down and we became one.
We shared the triumphs of tackling another set of stairs, the joy of persevering and taking just a few extra steps, the beauty of praising the Lord in song, the warmth of the sun on our faces, and the exhaustion of a long day of work.
After lunch when I went up to her crib and said her name, she jumped up onto her knees and met me with a beaming smile and outstretched arms.
My heart exploded again.
The next morning, after she had made it up and down the hallway a couple of times, I was so proud of her I scooped her up in my arms. She smiled one of her beautiful smiles, threw her arms around me and gave me the biggest hug I have ever received.
That’s when I realized that my entire heart was hers.
God had done what I asked. He had given me a love for her that I could never have been capable of on my own. My eyes welled up with tears and I stood there holding my little girl tight.
God’s little girl.
I got sick that afternoon and haven’t been able to see her since. My heart breaks when I think of her all alone in her little crib, waiting for me. I can’t wait to go to her again, scoop her up in my arms and let her know that I haven’t forgotten about her.
Which makes me think of God and the love He has for me. The desire He has to help me walk. The joy He feels when I succeed. The sadness when I fall.
I think of how many times all He has wanted to do is pick me up in His strong arms and show me that I am loved and cherished.
Then I thank Him over and over for loving little Trinity through me and for giving me yet again another glimpse into the incredible and endless love He has for me.
It’s a love so deep that it hurts, yet a love so beautiful it’s not worth trading for anything.
