A Prayer for Peaches

Boys and girls swarmed the camp nurse’s station like bees around colorful blossoms. While I put Band-Aids on cuts and ice packs on swollen fingers, I poured God’s love on lonely hearts. It was my first summer as a volunteer camp nurse, and my husband was a camp counselor. We were blessed to be part of sharing God’s love with so many children. I treasure those memories.

Peaches, a battered child from a broken home, often came to the nurse’s station. She was like a wounded kitten seeking attention but afraid to get too close. Her eyes revealed more suffering than any eight-year-old should know. I asked God to change her life.

The last day of camp she didn’t come to see me like she usually did. When camp was over, the children gathered their belongings and met outside the main dining room where church buses waited to take them home. I scanned the faces of the children who lined up for the buses, but Peaches wasn’t there.

I prayed for wisdom, then I searched the camp until I found her hiding in one of the cabins. She didn’t want to leave camp because she didn’t want to go home. I listened as she shared painful secrets, and I knew that only God could heal her heart. I explained how much God loved her, and I shared His gift of salvation. She’d heard the same message at camp all week, but she finally understood. She trusted in Christ and found eternal life and eternal love.

I helped Peaches pack her things for the ride home, and I encouraged her to tell her pastor the things she told me. We walked to the main camp building where her church bus was waiting, but we didn’t want to say good-bye.

I hugged Peaches, then I fingered the cross necklace my husband had given me for Christmas.

I studied his face to see if he understood. After he nodded, I placed my necklace on her neck and whispered, “God loves you, and He will never leave you. I love you, too.”

After the buses left, I shared my concerns with the camp director, and I asked him to talk with her pastor. Someone needed to evaluate her home situation.

I never saw Peaches again. A few weeks later my husband and I moved with our son to a different state for more training before we eventually went to the mission field in Mexico.

It’s been almost forty years since Peaches trusted in Christ as Savior. I don’t know where she is now, but I’ll never forget her. What’s more important is that she has a wonderful Heavenly Father who loves her and will never leave her. I pray that Peaches will always remember how much God loves her.

Do you know children who need to understand how much God loves them? Will you share the gospel with them so they can have a valid opportunity to trust in Christ?

“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”  II Timothy 3:15