Girtie

Girtie is a short story--for children and adults with a childlike heart, to illustrate the loving kindness of God and how true love transforms our lives. Girtie is blind, broken, and scared and needs to be loved, like many of us were before it became clear that God truly loves us, no matter the circumstances. Symbolizing God, the Man in the Forest reaches down to rescue Girtie, but she fights back, thinking he is a predator. That's how we also fight God until we learn that God only wants the best life for us. With great kindness, the Man in the Forest is relentless and convinces Girtie he was only there to help. Little did Girtie know that she was in for a life-changing experience that would bring the deepest joy of living and self-worth--because of loving kindness! And all she had to do was...just surrender.Girtie's story was inspired by a songbird identified as the wood thrush--the official bird of Washington, D.C. It is known to sing its most melodious flute-like song during the darkest of night in the forest.