Dear Alex,
When you showed up to our feeding program on the first day of ministry in San Jorge, I didn’t realize just how much I would love you. You immediately reminded me of my baby brother back home, and I think that’s why I gravitated toward you. I knew I would be sad to leave you behind when the time came, but I never could’ve imagined how much you would change my heart.
My oh my, you are adorable. You have the sweetest smile I had ever seen, and your laugh is impossibly contagious. You have such a loving way about you, and it steals the hearts of everyone you meet. Thank you for picking flowers for us every day, and always making sure the girls at your table got their food first (chivalry isn’t dead y’all). At six years old, you have such an intentional heart, and it shines brightly.
Thank you for looking past my broken Spanish and not letting it stop you from loving me and sharing your story. Thank you for telling me about the Father that left you, and the Mother that was too young to care for you. Thank you for explaining that neglect and abandonment were all you knew when it came to love. Thank you for explaining that the church was the only family you’d ever known.
Alex, I owe you an apology. I spent two weeks keeping you at an arms-length away and not loving you as hard as I should have. I never would’ve known that you spent most of your six years of life homeless, or that you didn’t know your birthday because no one really knew where you came from. You wrecked my heart, and you didn’t even know it. I’m sorry that it took you telling me your story for me to pour everything I had into you. Because I should’ve done it right away. And I’m sorry that my time with you was so short.
Mi chico favorito, you hold a special place in my heart. You’re in my prayers everyday. I pray that you know you will always be a part of my family. I pray that you will understand just how loved and valued you are. I pray that Papa keeps his arms around you, and that you feel his embrace in it’s fully capacity. Thanks to you, I will never hesitate before loving someone the way they should be loved. I will never allow someone’s story to determine just how much they should be loved, or to determine whether or not I love them.
I understand now just how important my job here is. I’m called to freely give, as I have freely received. I’m called to love, because He first loved me. And I see now that there are people out there who are relying on me to do what God has called me to do. And I owe these things to you, the six year old who stole my heart.
Just as I promised, I’ll see you again one day. And I love you dearly.
Te Amo Mucho Chico,
“Estephanie”
