God's Child

Eight years old

The abandoned child

Sat on the enclosed porch of the home

Her grandfather built

Deep in the swampy woods of east Texas

Staring right and left down the road out front

And wondering how far she could get

Speculating if she could make it to the levee

Where she could just walk out into the bayou

Until the water covered her head

And she could just float away into the arms of glory

Would anyone notice she was gone?

Would they even look for her?

Sadly, she knew the answer to those questions

A houseful of aunts, uncles and cousins were all inside

Laughing, teasing, loving each other

But the abandoned child

Is not, and never has been a

Part of their boisterousness

Or a part of them

Never. Never. Never.

And she asks God over and over again,

Until it becomes a prayer

Or a Mantra

“Dear God, why did you put me with these people?”

And a small little flame of hope deep inside

Flares up and whispers gently to her

“Child, this is not all there is.

You will get away

When the time is right

You will get away

You will be safe

You will find love"

So, she didn’t go to the levee

She did not let the water wash her soul away

She waited, and persevered

And eight years later

She boarded a bus heading east

As a 16-year-old runaway

With $300 buried deep in her bag

With no plans

And barely any dreams

And….

As she knew they would

No one even noticed

Or even looked for her

No police reports were filed

It was as if she never existed

Except in the heart of God

And she realized she could never be an orphan

Because no matter what she would

Always be God’s child

And that she was loved

And she survived

- Julie O'Hara 2023

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