Wooing Beat-up Hearts

Recently our faithful encourager and blog-commenter, Chris from Minnesota, asked whatever became of the women I'd been visiting in brothels?

Two women in two separate establishments became my friends, Jade-Flower and Dawn. I visited them back-to-back same day, same time every week for several months. We shared good times, with other friends and family involved too, and it was almost normal. But never really normal, because they are undoubtedly the most injured, transient, abused, detached women I've ever called friends. Healthy friendships are balanced; there is an exchange and a mutuality that holds friends together. Because these women had so much vitality taken from them, our relationship felt needy and exhausting. It was hard, because I am weak.

But it was good. 

Jade-Flower texted me from Shanghai, "I moved back to Shanghai now. How are you? Is your Chinese boy doing better?"

Dawn is gone. "She went back to her hometown," said a new girl in the brothel, "and I don't have her current number."

I think, I think they know that I value them just for them. Dawn never really opened up. Jade-Flower, on the other hand, poured out her heart when I sat on her couch. We still text, just surface stuff, every now and then.

I had hoped, both optimistically and naively, that these two women would quickly get out of prostitution and we'd be good friends for a long time. But what do I know of right-timing and redemption and wooing beat-up human hearts?

counting the graces

thank you Father for

boys holding hands walking to school with Daddy, captive audience listening to another in his series of "bike stories"

new perfectly fitting stretchy grey jeans

 next-door neighbor decided to keep, not abort, her second baby

potential for an unexpected adventure - joy!

never-ending, everyday, exciting, sometimes frustrating, always secure, wonderful, like-falling-in-love, pursuit...to know you
hugging and snuggling my kids' soft faces after school each day, then chasing them on the playground, giggling