"When are you leaving?"
The question shocked us. Michael and I were in the office with a few of the girls just hanging out and shooting the breeze. And out of no where. Our 7th grader asked, "When are you leaving?"
We were a few hours away from going off duty, so we answered with the hour we would be heading to our apartment for some much-needed R&R.
"No, when are you leaving Barton (Vera Lloyd)?" she asked.
We looked at each other. "We're not leaving anytime soon; we plan to be here a long time!"
"What? I thought everyone was only here for a limited amount of time."
[She's been here since April and through the transition of us coming has met 5 different staff in the Barton home, as well as several "Barton sisters." She also is in care due to abandonment and neglect.]
"Nope. We can stay as long as we want! We just moved across the country, so I don't think we'll want to do that again for a very long time."
"Why did you move across the country?"
"To come here."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Oh."
She's been standing on this ledge for a week or two now. She's one of our sweetest girls with a TON of potential. But as soon as she sees that we care about her, she begins pushing and doesn't stop until she reaches a limit. It was soon after we picked up on this pattern, this testing of our love, our stability, our commitment, our concern...that we had this conversation. And I'm not sure the answer has settled in her heart yet, but the question itself sure broke ours.
She might leave before we're able to show her that we care enough to stay; she might have such a history of broken promises that she can't believe it anyway. So we'll need to use our time with her to press upon her heart that God's the one that's always been right with her from the start.
The question shocked us. Michael and I were in the office with a few of the girls just hanging out and shooting the breeze. And out of no where. Our 7th grader asked, "When are you leaving?"
We were a few hours away from going off duty, so we answered with the hour we would be heading to our apartment for some much-needed R&R.
"No, when are you leaving Barton (Vera Lloyd)?" she asked.
We looked at each other. "We're not leaving anytime soon; we plan to be here a long time!"
"What? I thought everyone was only here for a limited amount of time."
[She's been here since April and through the transition of us coming has met 5 different staff in the Barton home, as well as several "Barton sisters." She also is in care due to abandonment and neglect.]
"Nope. We can stay as long as we want! We just moved across the country, so I don't think we'll want to do that again for a very long time."
"Why did you move across the country?"
"To come here."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Oh."
She's been standing on this ledge for a week or two now. She's one of our sweetest girls with a TON of potential. But as soon as she sees that we care about her, she begins pushing and doesn't stop until she reaches a limit. It was soon after we picked up on this pattern, this testing of our love, our stability, our commitment, our concern...that we had this conversation. And I'm not sure the answer has settled in her heart yet, but the question itself sure broke ours.
She might leave before we're able to show her that we care enough to stay; she might have such a history of broken promises that she can't believe it anyway. So we'll need to use our time with her to press upon her heart that God's the one that's always been right with her from the start.
Betsy! Mike!
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to drop a line and let you know that you are in our prayers! Thank you for following the Lord's calling and committing your lives to the Vera Loyd home. What an amazing couple you are! Keep blogging, I love hearing about your new lives! We are rooting for you two; we're completely on your side. Let us know if you need anything.
Love,
Curtis and Cassidy Kipple