Five-Minute Friday's.

Today's Topic: The Hard Love.

GO.

"My sweet girl, what is wrong?" The beautiful tear-streaked face turned up to return her teacher's concerned gaze.

"Nothing, Ms. Layla. Do not worry about me, I am doing fine." Even as she spoke it was easy to see that she was fighting tears again.

It hit her then why the young girl was crying; today was the one year anniversary of the death of her parents and the day that she had first been brought to the small orphanage. It is true that, especially then, the orphanage hadn't been much of anything-- two small bedrooms with three bunk-beds in each, two bathrooms and one commons area with a sink and kitchen used by all. A smile crossed Mrs. Layla's weary face as she remembered those not soon forgotten days. Those were the days she had planned to give up. It didn't matter the call she had felt a year ago, this was harder than she could handle. It was too much to have another heart-breaking story such as Arianna's walk through the door. It was so hard, loving them all so very much. Every single tear that slid from their eyes, she felt. Every time they couldn't seem to find hope, she would help them to gain it back, even when her own was in short supply. But each time she was tempted to call it quits, she remembered what Jesus had done for her. He had done, and kept doing, all of this and so, so much more. As she wrapped her arms around the precious teenager sitting beside her, she felt the arms of Jesus wrap around her heart. It's true that love was hard, but it's also true that it is so very worth it.

STOP.

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