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Louie. What a giant of a man he was, from the
beginning. We met in the home of mutual friends, who had rescued me and my
children from a woman??™s shelter. I remember seeing him for the first time,
how he seemed to fill the room, and I remember thinking, this is a man who
knows exactly who he is. My children fell in love with him, immediately,
especially nine-year-old Jenny and six-year-old Helen.
I had always wondered what a real man who truly loves
children would be like. I found out that first night. I was cautious and
distant, but I couldn??™t deny the charm of the man who willingly made a fool
of himself for the sake of my children. My daughters were entranced, and
they recited the most awful jokes, teaching him how to talk in belch,
informing him proudly about how they had learned these things from their
mother. I explained, blushing, that ???my children are always bragging about
me.???
He was charming and outgoing with the little ones; yet
with the adults, he was quiet and seemed quite shy. At one point, my twelve
year old became frustrated, because no one was listening to her. Louie
propelled himself from the floor, waving his powerful hands, and silencing
everyone.
???This young lady has something to say, and we should
all listen.??? Everyone looked at my daughter, as she told her story. Louie
laughed in all the right places, giving an encouraging look to anyone who
wasn??™t paying attention.
???Now isn??™t that a funny story???? he asked, and, of
course, everyone agreed. I watched him that night, and I marveled at his
tenderness with my little girls, who had never known a man??™s tenderness. I
sent a silent communication toward heaven. So this is what love is.
We started out as friends. He talked to me like a big
brother, when he thought that I was not taking care of myself. I was
picking at my food, and all the terrors of our flight from an abusive home
had paralyzed my throat, so that I couldn??™t swallow much food. Louie gave
me a searching look, yet his voice was softly reproving.
???Those little girls need you.??? He said. ???If you don??™t
take care of yourself, who??™s going to take care of them???? I was mesmerized
by the innate decency of this man, and his ability to state the simple
truth. He was right. I was all that my children had. So I began to eat,
chewing slowly, and finally swallowing as we talked.
He was in the Navy. He had served on the same
ship with the husband of the woman who had taken us in. I was beaten down
by the time I met Louie, and I was very protective of my children. No man
would ever hurt them again. But I reveled in this new friendship. I was
assured that Louie could be trusted, and that was enough for me.
I found myself so drawn to the respectful, shy man who
had already captured my children??™s hearts. I had the irresistible urge to
make him laugh, and I seized every opportunity, as he heaved boxes and
furniture helping me move into my own place. It took us all day to move
from one end of Jacksonville, Florida to the other, but finally I was set
up, with my little girls in my very first apartment.
It was a lovely place. I had fought for a decent place
to bring my daughters to, and the state of Florida had made certain of it
defending the rights of my children, and protecting their lives and mine. I
will never forget how strangers befriended us, after relatives and friends
turned their backs. To me, it is amazing to remember the angels that God
brought into my life, when I was most alone.
When we were finally settled, and the girls were put
to bed, Louie and I talked long into the night. He walked my dog, as I
made sandwiches. I watched him. Every nuance. I noticed the strong lines
of his face. I watched him through the front window, as he patiently waited
for my dog to find just the perfect spot. Louie??™s face in repose spoke of
deep thoughts, and if God would grant me one wish about that night, it
would be to know what was on his heart and mind in those moments.
Louie??™s ship was leaving the next day for a six week
deployment, and I gathered up the courage to ask for his mailing address,
never expecting to see him again. I was alone, and I knew it. That first
night alone in my first apartment was a night of reflection. I turned out
all the lights, and my bedroom was softly illuminated by the street lamp
outside my window. I thought about a gentle man and kind friends, who
selflessly gave of themselves out of the goodness of their hearts.
I recalled what I had said to Louie the very first
night that we met, when he was encouraging me to take care of myself for the
sake of my children. I had found the urge to speak boldly to my new friend,
absolutely irresistible.
???Louie,??? I had said, watching his deep green eyes,
shyly meet mine, ???Someday, a woman will come into your life, who will love
you, as no one has ever loved you before, and all the sorrows of your life
will be left far behind.???
Perhaps my words were the simple reflection of my own
heart??™s longings. But I never dreamed what God already knew??¦that woman
would be me.
?© Jaye Lewis, 2005
Jaye Lewis is an award winning writer and born again
Christian who looks at life from a unique perspective, celebrating the
miraculous in the every day. Jaye is a contributing author for the Chicken
Soup for the Soul series. She lives in the mountains of Virginia with her
husband, two daughters and a menagerie of pets. Visit Jaye??™s website at
www.entertainingangels.org Email Jaye at
jayelewis@comcast.net |
