I touched the face of an angel… It was a day not so different than any other day. The song of the sparrows rang from the old maple tree off the porch. A spring breeze lifted the lazy buds and dropped them ever so gently. Across the street, the sound of boys playing basketball floated across the yard. She came to be with us without warning; ever so delicately dropped into our home, and our hearts. Like every other child who had been whisked away from chaos, she was handed off to strangers, and asked to trust them completely. As expected, she cautiously began to explore this new home, flitting from toy to toy like a hummingbird to petals. The new sights and the strange people were interesting enough to keep her attention for the afternoon. From the beginning, she was a ray of sunshine, bubbling and babbling with excitement and anxiety. It was all too easy to adore her. Every sunny day eventually gives way to clouds, and cloudy it quickly turned. Suddenly, and without warning, the rosy cheeks turned downward, and the tears came almost immediately as she once again was reminded that no familiar face was near. The strangers around her could not comfort the pain in her heart, though they tried in earnest. Sadly, the tears of this angel could not be slowed by mere hugs and comforting promises. Days passed, as they always do. The scenes of that first day were often repeated: our angel, busily involved with a toy, or her favorite program, seemingly content – only to fall suddenly into soft tears, longing for her absent family. She was so irresistibly easy to adore, with her angelic gaze; her soft innocence. Once we discovered how she enjoyed singing, we eagerly put the microphone in her reluctant hand. How mesmerizing it was watching her croon “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”! She quickly became the centerpiece of the household. Spring gave way to summer, and the days grew long and warm. As the months passed, our angel became more relaxed and comfortable. The cloudbursts of sudden tears were fewer and fewer, as she began to embrace her new family. Strangers were drawn to her as the moth to the flame. Those who came to know her were forever touched by her childish innocence and charm. We could not have imagined the hold that this doll would take on our hearts. Then…as suddenly and quietly as she had come to us…she was gone, forever lost to us. It was as though our little ship had been blown over. When you accept a stranger’s child into your care, you must accept your responsibility to provide for their needs, and keep them safe. It is an added bonus if you should develop an emotional bond with that child. It is rarely automatic. I have embraced an angel, disguised as a four-year-old. Though this heavenly creature was entrusted to us for only a moment in time, the strings she wrapped around our hearts will long leave their marks… I miss you, Leila…
Posted on: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 03:08:04 +0000
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