Soft Stories Two: Chloe

Chloe

Chloe is a little girl who comes down to the front with all the other children to sit on the blanket and talk with me.

Chloe is a little girl with curly blonde hair and chocolate brown eyes and a smile that is just a little too good to be true.

Chloe is a little girl whose family likes animals. They have ten cats, two dogs, a guinea pig, a ferret, and another ferret that’s just staying with them for awhile.

Chloe is a little girl who is ten years old. She’s been my friend since she was three.

Chloe is a little girl who sometimes meets visitors at the door and gives them a tour of our church.

Chloe is a little girl who crawled off the blanket during Advent when I was showing the children a shepherd’s curved staff. I hooked her with the staff and pulled her back to the blanket like a little lost lamb.

Chloe is a little girl who once asked me if I would be her daddy. I told her I couldn’t, but I would always be her friend.

Chloe is a little girl who raises her hand every single Sunday and asks that we pray for the Gypsies.

Chloe is a little girl who sat in my lap on the blanket one Sunday, looked right at me and said, “You farted.”

Chloe is a little girl that I baptized in a swimming pool on a Saturday night.

Chloe is a little girl who walked down the aisle last week during the final song, put her arms around my waist and stood there with her face pressed against my side. I leaned down and asked if there was anything she wanted to say to me. She whispered, “No, I just want to stand here.” I told her I was glad she was there because it’s lonely up front sometimes.

Chloe is a little girl who likes to smile and flirt and is often the center of attention, but I can see that there is sadness in her brown eyes. I can see it.

Chloe is a little girl who gets a hug from me every Sunday. God told me to make this a priority.

Chloe is a little girl who is a part of the silly gathering of friends that we call church.

Chloe is a little girl. She and I are in this together and for the long haul.

rlp

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