“Every child you encounter is a divine appointment.”
 

                               - Wess Stafford, President, Compassion International

Have you ever had one of those the dog ran away, 2 flat tires, computer crashed, my life is OVER and its only Tuesday kind of a week?  Well it was definitely one of those for me!  I was driving to Camp DaKaNi to take pictures at Camp Fire USA Heart of Oklahoma’s G.O.T.C.H.A. (Great Outdoor Teaching Classroom Holiday Adventure) Program.  The morning started and I was just doing my normal routine “1,2,3, CHEESE” trying to get through the day as fast as I could just hoping I captured good photos.  However, that afternoon this plan was interrupted when the fishing instructor needed a little help with a bigger group.  Great . . . Just what I needed, I am having a horrible day and now I have to go fishing with a little kid.  So I put my camera down and grabbed biscuit dough, fishing pole and asked the sweetest most innocent looking little girl that I could find, If she needed help fishing. I handed her the pole and we walked around to the less crowded side of the pond.  As we started fishing we talked about school, how her day was going, what her favorite activity was, and then she told me that this was her first time fishing.  In this moment I realized, this little girl doesn’t care if my dog ran away or if my computer crashed she just wants my attention.  All most kids are looking for is someone to just spend time with them and LISTEN.  As fishing time came to a close, with still not a single bite, we rolled the string and hook up on the pole and my little friend went on her way.  In that moment my life was changed.  This little girl with not a single care in the world adjusted my whole week in a single moment.  Never underestimate the power of a child’s words . . . all you have to do is listen.

Sherman Merchant
Graphic & Web Design Artist
Camp Fire Heart of Oklahoma