I just wanted to share something with everyone and I haven’t blogged in a while so I thought this might be a good opportunity.
Yesterday I went to Apple Charlie’s apple orchard to get some donuts and cider and pick some apples with some friends. Its something I wanted to do before I left. It was a good time, but something else happened when I was there. I was love struck. By true love.
I was waiting on a picnic table for the restroom to open up getting kind of frustrated. I had TO GO! As I’m waiting, this little girl about 5 years old comes around the corner with someone, maybe a cousin or sister or someone, and sits about 4 feet away from me on the same picnic table and then scoots herself rite next to me. And because we/I are products of our environment (and the majority of Americas environment is always on edge and selfish) I thought “ok, why is this little girl sitting next to me?” I love kids so I didn’t really mind, I just thought it was a little strange.
From when I saw the little girl come around the corner it was apparent she had Down syndrome, and that to kind of made it a little more strange. But then she started talking to me telling me a story. I couldn’t make out what she was saying, really, but I would agree with her in excitement just to make her feel like I knew what she was saying, and to show that I was excited with and for her. After a couple minutes her mom came around the corner and told her they had to go. So the little girl turns to me and tells me “I gotta gooooo”, and I just simply said “ok, I’ll see ya later”, and she leaned in to give me a hug and gave me a kiss on the cheek and said “bye!”
That situation might sound weird to some, no big deal, or could care less. But to me, I was in awe. I heard a lot of times that “people with Down syndrome are very loving people”, but I’ve never experienced it I guess. It was one of the cutest things ever. That situation put me at peace for that moment and I was so happy and probably had the biggest grin on my face. In that moment I felt relieved of all my stress that I’ve been dealing with. Literally the stomach pains from anxiety went away, a sincere smile was on my face, and a new view was put in my spirit.
What I saw in that moment was Jesus. For real. She walked away and I wanted to keep listening to her story. This little girl, to me had a spirit I wish I had. She was FILLED with so much happiness. The whole time she was smiling, and it was just different then anything else. I had an opportunity to sit with something/someone so innocent and pure. It was like she was a little angel in Heaven sittin there talkin to her daddy (Jesus) and he was like “hey, you see that guy sittin down there by himself on the picnic table? That’s Ben and I need you to go down there for a minute and talk to him, he needs you.” I guess, maybe you had to be there? All I know is God used that little girl in that moment to show ME something I needed to experience. She walked away and it about brought me to tears, as dumb as it sounds. I was just so overwhelmed by the love she had for a weird bearded guy, but also that THAT’S how we need to be with one another. THAT is how we need to love one another. 100% selflessness. We should be able to go up to anyone anywhere and not feel uncomfortable and be able to share life with each other and truly love the one we’re talking to. Now I know we’ve all had these thoughts I’m sure, but it’s something else when it’s revealed to us in “God” moments like that, and through his divine appointments….even if it's with a 5 year old girl with Downn Syndrome.
Thank for reading!
-Ben
