Summer Legs

Bruises... Luciana calls them "summer legs". It's actually a very positive thing.

After spending her whole life in the orphanage, Lia is discovering more of the outside world, for the good and the bad. Let me explain...

Yesterday we went to the park. Isa and Lia chased bubbles, as I lost my breath. They had a blast. Other children would join in and then drift off with their parents after awhile.

Since moving in with us six days ago, we have noticed scratches on her arms, blisters on her feet and black and blue marks on her legs. She is not completely stable on her feet, and she loves to chase bubbles, pigeons, dogs, and anything else that moves. These bruises are signs of a child who is embracing a summer life.

We have also noticed that she will walk right up to anyone who is enjoying a bag of popcorn in the park, or having an intimate conversation with their significant other and expect a response. Yesterday she plopped herself down on the grass to watch a woman in the park doing sit-ups.

She is afraid of no one. At her going away party we saw the social butterfly in all her glory. She would strut from one person to another as they would give her bites of cake and ice cream. The places she spent the majority of her life were the orphanage and the church. No wonder she trusts everyone.

Becoming like a little child. Isn't that what Jesus calls us to? Summer legs and trusting that God has the best for us. I am learning to smile at the people that Lia chooses to walk up to at the market, in the park, or strolling past us in the street.

Not as easy for me as it is for Lia, but Jesus is a great teacher.

Lia is too...

mbp