Finding Him

She always finds me.

Granted, I'm taller than most all of the preschoolers and I'm kind of loud, she still manages to find me before anyone else or wiggle her way to the front of the line of kids asking to be held. She looks up at me with those big "Eeyore" eyes (puppy = please pick me, oh pleaseeeee I'll be ever so sad if you don't. Eeyore = please pick me... if you don't it's ok; I'll wait) which makes it almost impossible to say no to because you don't want her to have to wait. So... I don't make her wait and up she sails into my arms; without a word she gives me a big hug and either contently leaves her head resting on my shoulder or if my hair is down will begin gently, braiding my hair.

Her heart is beautiful and kind. Her name means: companion or friend, which suits her so well! If she isn't in my arms or working in class, she's either: helping one of her classmates put on their shoes, pushing someone on the swing, singing and getting other kids to join in or giving rides on the back of a trike. Recess is one of her favorite times, I try to hold all the kids that I can throughout the day (appropriate and loving touch is an important part of development; it's actually a key part to healthy brain development) it's been amazing to see the change in a child when you start carrying them, holding them, hugging them and the way they light up. During recess though, if she's in my group, my little friend will leap into my arms and ask to sit on a "step" near the playground. I hold her tight, play "trot trot to Boston", sing with her and when another child needs attention she trails me, holding onto my shirt or sitting beside me, touching my arm, just being near me. She's always there. She always finds me.

Coming to Haiti I knew I would need to be flexible, I knew that I was going to teach but learn a lot more then I taught and that my faith would be tested. This little girl has shown me what it means to call Jesus friend and what it means when He is our friend. We all have friends, I hope. We seek them out wanting to know about their lives, what their doing, looking for advice etc. and if they don't answer calls or texts we assume the worst, we do everything in our power to make sure they're ok because they're our friends and we don't want to lose them because they're like family, they're a piece of you. "No man is an island, entire of itself; each is a piece of the continent, a part of the main." as John Donne very wisely said in his poem For Whom the Bell Tolls.

We need to do the same with God. He is our friend and we should be seeking Him, finding out what He's up to in our world and in each others lives. Following Him wherever He leads and sitting with Him simply enjoying the nearness of Him. Jesus praised Mary for clinging on His every word, He told the little children to come to Him after the disciples tried to send them away. God always has time for us, He's never pushing us away from Him though sometimes it's hard to see Him through the storm of life calling out to us saying "Come to me, walk on the water" "Trust me and take that leap of faith, I will catch you" "Stop overthinking it, it's a small step not a drop off, trust me." It's not easy but it's worth it. So find Him; step out of the boat, reach out your hand and walk/run to grab His outstretched one. Follow Him because He'll take you places you've dreamed of going but the choice is yours.