A Little Jesus

My last day at the club was Wednesday, August 11th, 2004. I know for a fact that there are kids I will miss. Most of them in fact. They all had their mischievous days and their good days. But there is one that stands out in my mind (and I hope it will be a long, long time before I forget her). Little Franny. I don't even know how old she is. Probably about 9 or 10. But she has a somewhat severe mental disability. It affects the way she talks and her behavior. But she is the most beautiful little thing you ever saw when you spend time with her. She loves to touch, everything, everybody. It's her way of speaking in love. And she never gives up on anyone, no matter what. I was talking to some other kid about - oh, I don't remember - and I said something was stupid. Franny, quite unashamedly, said that I shouldn't say stupid, but that was it. There was no afterthought and no change in her perception of me. I caught myself starting to justify my actions to her, and looking back I ask myself, "What were you thinking?! What's the big idea in trying to make this innocent more in tune with the world?" I can describe Franny in no better way to you than to say that she was the purest expression of the love of Jesus that I've ever seen in all my life. The Passion was heart-rending, but actually coming in contact with the pure love of Christ is another thing. I am reminded of Garrison Keiller's story about meeting Donny Hart on the bus. You should look that up and listen to it.