safe

on friday i took our pal to the pool. she's six. she's never been in a pool in her entire life. ever.

i've found that the word that i try to focus on with her when i am with her is safe. SAFE: Free from harm, injury, or risk; untouched or unthreatened by danger or injury; unharmed; unhurt; secure; whole; as, safe from disease; safe from storms; safe from foes.

this little girl has spent 98% of her life not being safe. being beaten to the core by the one man that was suppose to love her. had a knife pulled out on her by that same man. being told over and over again that she was a horrible kid. it breaks my heart.

what's amazing to me is that just by holding her in the water or rather her holding on to me for dear life - and repeating the word - safe - i could feel her little body letting go minute by minute by minute. it was such an amazing feeling. as the day went on - the bravery she displayed left me beeming.

at the end of the day - she had gone under the water 10 TIMES! she was letting me teach her the back float, she jumped off the side, she went down the big slide and she didn't even pee in the pool - she told me all three times she had to go.

it's just another reason why when you help someone else - you really end up helping yourself - when i think about what she's been through in her short little life - i know there is nothing that i can't do.