Swimming pools and scars

By Megan Cynaumon

Dear Avery,

This past week there was a horrific school shooting. All shootings are horrific, but this one in particular was something else. 20 young children died while attending a class as they would do everyday. And for what? For a deranged soul to release his anger with the world? I will never be able to comprehend the evil that possesses some people.

I wanted to you to know, that there will always be evil and darkness in this lifetime, but that doesn’t mean that goodness is non-existent. Maybe evil exists so that we know true goodness? And vice-versa. So, be the good in the world.

Evil existed in a small child’s life. She came to me one summer as I was working on my internship for college  working with abused and neglected children. What was to come of that, changed my life, as it changed my relationship with God.

I was awarded with the task of leading two young girls. These girls came from rough backgrounds and childhoods that no child should ever endure. It was my job, that week, to: love them, support them, encourage them, educate them, and bring light into a dark world…even if it was only for that week.

Brianna was tough. Very quiet, angry, and reserved. She didn’t trust me at first, didn’t really even smile at me. Everyday we had a swimming period. She never wanted to swim. Anytime I would ask, she would shrug and say she didn’t want to. She still had to come dressed in her suit and towel, but I never forced her to swim. I figured she didn’t know how, and that was holding her back. But, that wasn’t the problem.

One day, Brianna’s towel fell down as we were walking to the pool. That’s when I noticed the scars on her back. Deep scars. Scars that a child should never have. Scars that told me more in that second about her than any words would have expressed.

She turned at looked at me, scared. She knew that I saw her scars. She asked, “Do you see them?” In that moment, I responded with, “See what? I see a pretty bathing suit and a beautiful child.” To this day, I believe those were the words of God speaking through me.

That was the first day Brianna swam at camp. And I never saw her light up as much as she did that day swimming in the pool…just like the other kids.

Brianna needed light in her dark world, she needed someone…anyone…to help her. I was forever changed that I got to be that person, even for a slight second, that made her day brighter.

So, when given the opportunity to be the light in another person’s life, take it. If you can change the life of even one person, make it good and make them feel loved, evil will never win. Ever.

Be the good, Avery. Be the light.

With love,

Aunt Megs*