Last night I met a flower girl, only this flower girl was different than the ones we usually think of. I met her around 11:30 at night. The first time I saw her she had an arm load of roses, so for the remainder of this blog, I will call her Rose. I passed by her, watching her try and sell these flowers to the men that walked past in complete oblivion to her little sales plee for one of her flowers. My heart instantly broke for her. The Lord told me to start praying for these children along the street of Bangla Road, who were selling things. I prayed for a protection over them. And I specifically prayed for Rose. Later in the evening, as we were leaving Bangla Road she came up out of no where and put her tiny hand out and stopped me dead in my tracks. This time she was selling the most beautiful smelling flower leis. She held them up and told me 100 Baht, which is about $3. I told her no thank you sweetheart, but that they were beautiful. Then I heard the Lord tell me, bend down, look her in her eyes. So I bent down. I again said no thank you, and then she placed it around my neck. I smiled and said, “oh for free? how nice,” she started laughing and started playing around with me. “No, no, not for free.” I then took it off my neck and handed it back. I asked her how old she was. She became silent. So I decided to make it a game and guess. I asked if she was six, a quick shake of the head told me no.”Eight? Oh, I know, you are twelve?” Another giggle. Then she held up her hands…seven. SHE IS SEVEN. She is out on these streets selling flowers and it’s nearly midnight. My heart sank again. I wanted to ask her so many questions after that. “Are you scared? What have you seen? Are people kind to you? Do you even have a childhood?” The questions were spinning through my mind, but the next one that came out of my mouth was, “do you go to school?” Now, I’m not sure if someone gave her a look to get back to her post, or if she knew I wasn’t actually going to buy a flower, but she didn’t answer that question, she just ran off.
The Lord has laid Rose on my heart. And so I will continually look for Rose each night I go down town for ministry. I truly feel helpless for her. I can’t offer her much, but the Lord has told me that what I can do is pray for her and so I will. Every time that little face is brought to my mind, I am giong to pray for her.
It’s interesting how I only thought the girls in the bars were my ministry this month, but now being down there, the children have also been put on my heart as well.
