Family

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She lived in the streets for days at a time and often weeks. I squandered in my bed at night wondering if she was ok, jumping each time the phone would ring. I wondered what would drive my child to the streets, what would possibly make her think the world had more love for her then the comforts of her own home. I wondered if I failed to listen, failed to care, or even failed to say the right words she needed to hear. But through all my wondering it dawned on me that I had never prayed with her, talked about God to her, or even took her hand to lead her to church.

Sure she was a teenager now, being pulled by the pressures of the world and pulled by the rules within the walls of her home. But nowhere in between did she know there was a cushion nowhere in between did she know to just choose God. I jumped to tell her when her clothes were tight, when it was time for bed, and to sit up straight and act like a lady. But I did not jump to lead her to God and there she was in the streets searching, searching for a face she had never seen, searching the very person who would bring her back to me, that person was God.

The phone rung out one night and though the ring was the same as always this particular ring did not scare me, did not make feel the lump in my stomach like the rings before. I answered slowly and on the other side of phone was man’s voice, he spoke with authority and introduced himself as a Montgomery County Maryland police officer. He went on to explain that he had just picked my daughter up for shoplifting, I was silent as I silently thanked God under my breath. When I did speak back I believe I sounded as though my daughter had done the most wonderful thing in the world. He explained to me that no charges were being sought and that I could come and pick her up. He was still talking when I disconnected the call to start my journey to the police department where she was being held.

When I saw her she smiled, a smile of relief as though she was glad to have gotten caught. I did not scold her, I felt as though the world that she had run to for comfort had that. I did ask her, “What were you taking from the store.” She responded, “Soap, I wanted to wash up and be clean.” And she has been clean in God’s hands ever since.

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