As a foster parent, I once had a four-year-old girl who was quite traumatized in her brief years on earth. She had seen and experienced far too much to bear. On her first placement in foster care, she came to my home for a long time before returning to her mother, and then – a few months later – I was called in the middle of the night to take her again. It wasn’t until her second stay in our home that I realized to what extent she had been hurt, and the realization of her background broke my heart. When the other foster children were napping, I would rock Savannah and tell her a story. The story was truly “off the cuff” where I would try to weave hope and wonder and daily living into this little person’s ears.” Here’s how it went:
Once upon a time, in the land of tall trees, there was a little girl who was four years old. She was a beautiful princess and she had a good life. She had long, flowing princess dresses and special shoes called glass slippers! She would go shopping sometimes and the special driver of her beautiful car would take her to wherever she wanted to shop (sometimes it was Wal-Mart or Target). If the little princess needed to get her chores done first she would tell her driver (called a chauffeur), “Oh, I must clean my room and put away all my toys before I go today!” The beautiful princess’s chauffeur would wait patiently and then, at just the right time, would take the princess to her store so she could buy…..”
On and on the stories went, each one building upon the other. Trying not only to focus on wonder in each story, I attempted to introduce good character qualities. Most of all, I tried to keep each story hopeful – in any way possible.
Sadly, Savannah was too hurt by life’s experience in her four years to stay in our home, and needed more intensive care. Her second stay with us was brief, and she was moved to a therapeutic foster home. I have thought of that little girl many times, wondering how she is today at age nine.
Fast forward to today:
In reading through the book of Numbers right now, it's interesting to read how the people complained about their provisions, knowing what we know - that God was leading them carefully through His man, Moses, and that all their provisions were coming from God Himself. We see this – now - because we are reading the whole story - and we can read from the beginning to the end. Yet, in our lives we complain of this and that – looking at an event rather than the whole picture - when we need to keep encouraging each other to rely upon the Author.
God has already written His whole story and it is compiled in many, many translations called the Holy Bible. God’s story isn’t “from the cuff” (as mine was to Savannah) but His story is perfectly thought-out, supremely organized, beautifully illustrated (burning bush, rainbows, pillar of cloud, pillar of fire, parting of the sea, etc.), magnificently worded, preciously poetic, and one-hundred percent true!
God’s story is in a way as Savannah’s story was meant to be – hopeful, full of wonder, character-building. But God’s story is far more! Events, experiences, trials, teachings abound! God reveals who He really is in His Word. From the beginning of Genesis, “In the beginning” to the end of Revelation, “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all, Amen” - God speaks words of direction, admonition, revelation, instruction, and perfect Love. God reveals His plan of redemption through His Son, Jesus Christ. God is the best Story-Teller ever! Praise Him for the True Word of His Story!
To Savannah, with hugs and prayers for a better life –Mama Susie
"But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you." Psalm 39:7
For two precious moments God used you as His ambassador to instill hope of some kind to that precious, wounded child. I pray that the seed of your love and the witness of Jesus Christ fleshed out in you will float through the corridors of her mind,echoing to her, "God is not dead. Life is not hopeless, look up Savannah. When this world crushes you to death, look up. The ONE who spoke you into existence hovers over the confusion and emptiness of your life, whispering,'Let there be light', making order out of senselessness." Stumbling around in darkness, she will hear Jesus declare,"Savannah, have hope; I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness." Marion
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