Shepherding a Child's Heart

(Barré) #1

(^)
Chapter7
Discarding Unbiblical Methods
A little girl caught my eye. She was a beautiful child. Every detail
of her clothing and grooming spoke of wealth. She and her mother,
like me, were waiting for a flight.
(^) This child’s beauty was external, for she was demanding and
petulant. It was apparent that her mother, weary from traveling, was
about to assert her authority.
(^) The child whined on, demanding this and that, refusing to be
pacified. Her mother tried to settle her. The child was implacable.
Then it happened.
(^) Exasperated, her mother finally turned on her. “I am sick of you,”
she said. “I hate you. Go away. Find someone else to yell at. I don’t
want you. I can’t stand you. Get out of my sight,” she gestured.
(^) With that, she picked up her things and moved away from her
daughter.
(^) The little girl might have been able to hold out against this power
play in normal circumstances, but here, in a strange airport, she felt
frightened.
(^) She moved toward her mother, “I’m sorry, Mommy. I love you,
Mommy.”
(^) “Go away. I don’t know you ... ”
(^) “I’m sorry, Mommy,” this time in desperation.
(^) “Go away. I hate you ... ”
(^) The airline called my flight. When I last saw them, the little girl
was still pleading and the mother was lecturing and scolding.

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