RECENTLY DUANE AND I WERE TALKING about an experience I had as an eighteen-year-old…

It was summer and I was home in the early day. A friend of mine was coming over, but before I got together with her the mailman was coming up our steps with a beautiful little blonde boy. I came to my mom’s side and listened eagerly. I was very interested in this child’s situation.

The mailman asked my mom if she could take care of him and find his home because he was working. Understandable He did not want to take time to help the boy if someone else who could more easily do it would…  (I’d like time to draw attention to the fact that this was a caring and loving man. I remember he had the boy by the hand. I fully believe if he hadn’t found a willing homemaker, he would have definitely taken charge of the situation himself.)

So my mom did the right thing and took the boy in. He was seven years old with beautiful blonde hair. I think his eyes were green. God opened up His love for this child through me even though I had sinner’s heart. I was, in fact, still a sinner at this time… I did however have some morals that pleased Him; and I found this precious child absolutely adorable! It was instant love for me. My motherly instincts kicked in. The boy was lost, unfamiliar with the area, and surrounded by adults he did not know. I wanted to take charge of him until my mother found out where he belonged. And I did! Being the youngest in my family and never having really any babysitting experience, I was overjoyed my mom let me!

By this time my friend had come so she and I took this child to McDonald’s. I just wanted to talk to him and give him love and assurance he would return to dad, mom and siblings very soon… My friend basically wanted jut to talk between the two of us as we sat there eating; but I wouldn’t let her do that. I didn’t scold her or anything, I just made certain this boy got the care he needed. He had a fun lunch! He wasn’t too shook up that he couldn’t eat, but unfortunately (for me only) when we came back to my house from McDonald’s his mom was there. I could have taken care of him for hours; being the youngest and the only girl of four children I was thrilled to give him attention…

When he saw his mom and siblings, he seemed embarrassed. He had wandered from the wrong end of our park and didn’t find his way. His mom was grateful to my mom and me.

I hated to see him go! I never saw him again…
I should have asked to come visit him once in a while. There are so very many things in my life I would do differently if I had to do them over… It never entered my mind to visit him or ask if I could babysit.

Selah.

It’s really a blessing when you find love like that: love that you didn’t even knew would be in you! This love is from God and I feel that love for this blonde boy to this very day! I wasn’t ready to be married and I certainly wasn’t wanting children at eighteen. Most of my younger life I wanted to get married at twenty (remember, I was eighteen here.) I wanted two boys and two girls, starting when I was twenty-two. But that didn’t happen. Yet as a young woman, this beautiful little blonde boy came to my steps and I stepped in, guarding and protecting him for as long as I had him. I will never forget that precious child, even though I did forget his name. I have no doubt he didn’t forget me either. Getting lost and put into the hands of complete strangers is a frightening thing for a child.

As I reflect on one of my first substitute mothering jobs I had, I thank God for the emotions that through flooded me for this child. Protection and soothing his feelings were first on my mind and I loved him at first sight. There is such a thing!

As I think about that very special day (and each one is!) I thank God that the love I had for him is as real today as it was when he was lost and forlorn. I pray that we will meet in Heaven; I know because of God’s great power we will know each other and remember our special time!

Do you know what else? I lost a lot of respect for my friend that day. She had no empathy to this little boy’s trauma. Our friendship didn’t last; don’t know when it ended… I was a sinner back then (I think she was too.) The fact that he seemed a burden to her angered me. And rightfully so! I hope, like me, she too has repented and come to Christ.

God’s love is compassionate!

SCRIPTURAL TRUTHS FOR THIS JOY STORY:

Psalm 78:5-7
He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

Psalm 139:13-16
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Acts 20:32-35
“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.  You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.  In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

1 John 1:9
 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Proverbs 8:17
I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.