Monday, April 21, 2008

i heart aaron smith

i keep a voice mail from a 2 year old boy named aaron. he now lives in india with his parents and sisters. i love that voicemail. just days before they flew to india, i got to spend one last evening with them; and aaron (his mom dialed and left a message as well) called me hours before just express the sentiments of his uncluttered emotions. in the message i hear his innocent, sweet voice unabashedly reaching from deep within that tiny heart of his just to say, "i love you, miss micah." i don't think i can ever erase that message. he saw a picture of me in december and remembered me, but i don't know if he will next time i see him.

three simple words that incorporate so much action, so much emotion, so much energy, so much. he had no hang-ups, no boundaries, no fear. aaron just said it. he wasn't told by his folks, "no, aaron, you're not old enough to understand love. we don't say those words to our babysitters and caretakers. we only say them to friends and family, people we've known for 10 years or more."

i had a disenchanting weekend, really lonely, discouraging, hard. i tried though. spent time with 2 old friends. called another. delighted by a central american breakfast of black beans, potatoes, eggs and fried plantains (i heart plantains!). swam (or at least walked in the pool). and still it was difficult. and so, i remembered aaron's message. no strings, no hassle, no buts, no holding back. just a pure and sweet and simple, i love you.

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