Her parents never took the young girl to church
Never spoke of His name
Never read her His word
Two non-believers walking lost in this world
Took their baby with them
What a sad little girl
Her Daddy drank all day and Mommy did drugs
Never wanted to play
Or give kisses and hugs
She'd watch the TV and sit there on the couch
While her Mom fell asleep
And her Daddy went out
And the drinking
And the fighting
Just got worse every night
Behind their couch
She'd be hiding
Oh what a sad little life
And like it always does, the bad just got worse
With every slap
And every curse
Until her Daddy in a drunk rage one night
Used a gun on her Mom
And then took his life
And some people from the city
Took the girl far away
To a new Mom and a new Dad
Kisses and hugs everyday
Her first day of Sunday school the teacher walked in
And a small little girl
Stared at a picture of Him
She said 'I know that man up there on that cross
I don't know His name
But I know He got off
Cause He was there in
My old house
And held me close to His side
As I hid there
Behind our couch
The night that my parents died'
"Has she ever been to church?" I asked.
"No, she hasn't." The Social Worker said.
"Has she been told about God or Jesus?" I said, looking over at my husband, Shawn.
"No Ma'am." The Social Worker replied.
"So... she doesn't even know about the bible?" Shawn said. The Social Worker shook his head and leant forward.
"Her parents were two non-believers walking lost in this world. Here is an interview with Chasey, she explains everything. She is a very smart seven year old girl." He said. He put it in, pressed play and left the room.
"This is Jennifer Morris, child psychologist and today is August 22nd, 2009. Sweetheart, can you say your name for me?" Jennifer said
"My name is Chasey Maria Avondale." Chasey replied.
"All right Chasey, I want to talk to you about your parents. Can you tell me about them?" Jennifer said.
"Yup, my Daddy drank all day and Mommy did drugs. I'd ask them to play with me but they never would, they hate me. I never got kisses or cuddles, ever." Chasey said.
"What would you do all day?" Jennifer said.
"Well, I'd go to school, and then I would watch TV while my Mom fell asleep and Dad when out. I never knew where he was going but he would come back worse than when he left." She said.
"What happened recently?" Jennifer asked.
"Well, Daddy's drinking got worse and the fighting got worse. They started hitting me too." Chasey said.
"Would you be able to get away from it?" Jennifer asked.
"Yup, if I hid behind the couch while Daddy was distracted, he would never find me there." Chasey said. I looked over at Shawn and he looked shocked.
"What happened after that Chasey?" Jennifer said.
"Well, things just got worse and worse. Daddy and Mommy would slap me and punch me and hit me all the time. Even when I didn't do anything, I just wanted it to stop. One day I hit my Dad back and he grabbed his shotgun and threatened me." Chasey said. I was surprised at how blasé she was about it.
"You don't seem hurt." Jennifer said. Chasey shrugged and started playing with her dress.
"It happened all the time but that night, I was really scared. Daddy was in a really bad mood. I ran and hid and then I heard the shotgun go off once... twice... and then there was total silence. I peeked out behind the couch and saw them lying on the ground. I was so scared so I hid back down. And then the people came and took me to here. They said I'm getting a new family." Chasey said. The tape cut off and then the door opened.
"Chasey, these are your new parents, this is Ellie and this is Shawn." The Social Worker said. Chasey looked at us and bit her lip. I walked over to her and hugged her.
"Hi Ellie and Shawn, I'm Chasey." She said. I smiled and lifted her up.
"You wanna come home with us? We'll give you lots of hugs and kisses every day and we'll take you shopping for clothes and then we'll play with you when we've finished shopping." I said. Chasey nodded and smiled.
After a few weeks, we decided that it was time for Chasey to experience her first day of Sunday school. We held her hands as we walked into the church and she went into the room.
"Minister, today is her first day ever of Sunday school so please don't pressure her." I said. The Minister nodded and smiled.
"Ellie, she'll be fine. Thank you for offering to do this Minister." Shawn said, gently grasping my hand. The Minister walked into the room and Chasey was staring at the picture of Jesus on the cross. She must have felt the presence behind her because she sighed.
"I know that man up there on the cross. I don't know His name but He did get off." Chasey said.
"How do you know him honey?" I asked, stepping forward and taking her hand.
"Cause he was there in my old house, and held me close to his side as I hid there, behind our couch. That was the night that my parents died, he kept me safe." She said. I smiled and hugged her tightly. Jesus had looked after my daughter and protected her. Now, that job was up to me and Shawn. I left the room and walked back up to Shawn.
"Jesus was with her all along." I whispered. Shawn smiled and nodded his head.
"It was her destiny to end up with us, the Lord made sure that we would get our little girl." Shawn said. I turned and looked back into the room. Chasey was talking to the Minister and I smiled. She wasn't the same girl anymore.
She was our little girl.