Gladys

I have yet to blog about Kenya, yet, which is strange for me. But I found when I came home I had so much on my heart and in my head- that it was difficult to pin point one experience. I finally sat down and wrote an article for the paper.. but I only picked out a handful of stories and it still went to about 8 pages.

One sweet memory, that I doubt I will ever forget is of the last day I spent with gentle Gladys.
Gladys didn't know much english, and so I had Lucy tell her that the beanie baby that she was holding was from me, and that I wanted her to have it. When Lucy told her, Gladys smiled up at me with her sweet grin and huge eyes... and then ran away. I just laughed at her retreating form. I was used to it by then.

Gladys wasn't like the other kids at the orphanage- she was shy and timid- and always gentle. She was the only kid that didn't want to be held or loved on, but would keep her distance with a smile, always a smile. After a couple days of her warming up to me, she finally decided I was trustworthy enough to hug. One day, as I sat on the ground playing with the kids I felt her small hand tap my foot. She was building something out of sticks and stones, maybe a miniature fireplace or landscape. I couldn't tell, but she was so tedious and every piece was in its proper place. My first thought was, "Gladys is an Artist".. and through a huge smile I expressed to her how wonderful it was. By the last night she had completely attached herself to me, and my heart filled to the brim when she fell asleep on my lap.

So as Gladys ran away from me on that last day, clutching the beanie baby that I had received as a child, I smiled. It was just her way, I thought. But I was totally blown away when she came back with something held in her small fingers. She looked up and held a beautiful purple flower, that she had plucked, for me to take. She was saying thanks, and giving me a present in return. The most beautiful thing she could find, she offered to me in response. I stared at her, open-mouthed, for a minute before I realized her sweet gesture and then I gave her a hug goodbye.

A simple flower broke down the language barriers that our different worlds tried to separate us by. I wonder if God feels a similar way when we come running back to him with a token of our love. She taught me how wonderful it feels to be chosen..
and I will forever choose my God.


Gladys is on the left side with the huge smile.