That's what my name means! - Explore Archived World Race Alumni Blogs

I walk into the orphanage. Simultaneously feelings of excitement and apathy overwhelm me as I look at the children lying on the floor. I want to spend time with them, I want to enjoy this but all I can think of is how bad I am with kids. I mean, in reality I’m not terrible with kids-it just depends on the kids!

I look around the room, hoping to find a loner to connect with, someone I can just sit and “be” with without any expectations. It doesn’t take long before I see him. The little cutie is simply leaning on the crib, wanting nothing to do with anyone. He wouldn’t give me any attention so I simply sit next to him. As I sit there though, something unexpected happens. The little girl who had been standing inside the crib comes, sits on my lap, and gives me a kiss on the cheek. I’m a bit taken aback at first. I mean, I don’t even like little girls normally.

As I sat there, this little girl simply continued to love on me. She hugged me. She climbed on me. She examined all my necklaces, bracelets, anklets. She rubbed my back as I held her in my arms. She laid her head upon my shoulder. She drank my water and then graciously offered some to me. Every now and then she would get up, as if she was walking away. She would walk down to about my ankles (my feet were extended), turn, and then run and give me a hug again.

When we walked into the orphanage, I saw this little girl in the crib. I didn’t say hello. Honestly, I don’t even know that I smiled at her. I was preoccupied with how hard this would be and trying to find an easy way out of it. I did nothing to find this girl. I simply sat down and she found me. As I thought about this, I realized how amazing it truly was. Here was a little girl, 2 years old, pursuing me, loving me, choosing me. Here was a little girl who wanted nothing more than to be with me even if I didn’t want to be with her (though let me tell you, that quickly changed). It reminded me a lot of the way the Lord views me. He’s constantly pursuing me, loving me, choosing me and regardless of if I want anything to do with Him, He wants everything to do with me.

I think what got to me the most was this little girl’s name. Here in Vietnam, the meaning of names if very important. If you ask someone their name, chances are they’ll also know what it means. Well, when I asked the ladies at the orphanage what my new friend’s name was they told me, “It means ‘song.'” I thought I was going to cry at that point. I instantly turned to the ladies and told them, “That’s what my name means!” They started smiling and told the little girl, my precious song, “Same same,” while pointing between the two of us.

You see, not only does the Lord pursue me, He knows me. He knows the song of my heart and sings it to me when I’ve forgotten it.