last night I got home from a 3 hour dinner with a couple of aunts and uncles and my parents. we drank wine, we ate wonderful food, and we had lovely conversation. this is the norm for me on a Sunday evening. we gather, as a family, at some one's home for an evening together. it's typical for me to just expect this to happen because it
always does.
when I got home, I slipped off my shoes and was getting ready to settle on the couch with my Kindle when the doorbell rang. I wasn't expecting anyone but when I looked out the peep-hole and saw a young girl, I wasn't really alarmed. I opened the door, said hello, and asked if I could help her. she asked, "can you call 911?" my first alarm goes off. is this one of my neighbor's children? what's happened? I asked her such and she said, "I went AWOL from my group home. I need you to call the police." so I called, talked to the operator, and when she assured me that someone was on their way, I went back outside and told the girl to sit on the rocking chairs with me until someone came for her.
I found out her name is Tania. she's 16. she lives in a group home just one road over from me, which, mind you, I didn't even know existed. she had been at the movies (she saw Harry Potter) and when she got back to her group home she decided she didn't want to be there, so she ran away. I could tell that there was something off about her. she has scratches and scars all over her arms. she couldn't stop fidgeting. she had a blank, almost lethargic look on her face. when the police arrived a few minutes later, I stood outside with them while they talked to her. my house and her group home are outside of city jurisdiction so we had to wait for the county Sheriff. all the while, the officers are talking to her quietly, calmly. not scolding her, just asking her why she didn't want to stay at her group home. she replied with, "I just don't like it there."
the police officers are talking to her and I'm standing back, trying to comprehend everything that's happening. this poor girl, who's only 16, has been abandoned by her drug-abusive parents, has no family around here (she's from a town about an hour northeast of where I live), and has no friends. nothing to call her own. my heart broke. I couldn't stop sobbing. the police officers both gave me a hug, told me thank you for calling, and went along their way.
I went inside and called my mom. I was almost on the verge of an anxiety attack. I just spent the last three hours with my wonderful, amazing, loving family, and this girl has nobody to turn to. I come home to my brand new house with my brand new furniture, a refrigerator full of fresh food, and anything I could ever need. this girl goes "home" to a place filled with other girls and no individualized attention. she has to share everything she has. I have a whole list of people I could call at any moment, people who I call friends. this girl has nobody to call and say hi or to ask how their day was. my life turned around.
Tania told me she liked to read. she's only seen a few of the Harry Potter movies but she likes them. she's keeping up with her school work.
I
have to help this girl.
I'm gathering all of my 16-year-old-appropriate books and putting them in a box. do you have any books that would be appropriate for a teenager that you would like to donate? if so, please send me an email - I'll give you an address to send them. I can't think of any other way to show this girl that there are people who care. people who do want to see her succeed. in my thirty minutes spent with this young girl, I saw the desperation in her eyes. her need for someone to care. I want to be that person. I also know there are other people like me who want to help. so please, if you have anything - one book, two books, fifty books - please let me know. I'll be filling boxes and driving them to her myself. I'll even take a picture with her if she's ok with that.
the lesson I learned last night - never take what you have for granted. just because someone has a bigger house, a nicer car, bigger diamonds, or more shoes than you doesn't mean they're any more blessed than you are. it's all in perspective. appreciate everything you have - some people have nothing to call their own, not even a family.
blessings to you, loves.
xoxo
