For the First Time

Her. I glance at a girl, sitting alone on the boardwalk ledge, shrinking back from the blaring music and crowds. Throngs of carnival partiers on all sides, yet we wait for the Holy Spirit to single somebody out. “Hey Sharon, come with me.” I grab my Italian partner. As we draw close it's obvious the girl is holding back tears. I ask her what's wrong, but she just shakes her head, too embarrassed to share. So we introduce ourselves, and she gives us her name, Julieta. In moments Sharon has her laughing. She's 17. Her 30 year old boyfriend ditched her in the middle of Carnival to go party. And she just wants to go home. She's has no family or friends in the city. Just the boyfriend she lives with. And now she's pregnant. “ You're like my angels!” she exclaimed after recounting to us her story. “I can't believe you'd come talk to me.” “Of course!" I say. "Do you know how valuable you are? Do you know how God sees you? Are you so precious to him. You are a treasure! You are beautiful. You have something special. Even being close to you, I just feel happy.” She's drinking in every word of truth. “Nobody has ever told me that before....” Sharon goes on to share with her what a relationship with God is like. As we talk and laugh her whole countenance changes. I am stunned at the power of simply loving someone and speaking the truth. Sometimes all it takes if flipping on the light in a dark room, and giving somebody the time of day.