Today the little kid part of Zoey felt terror from getting triggered by getting a whiff of the cologne a man at the park was wearing. It was the same cologne Zoey’s dad always wore. Zoey practices soothing and comforting the panicked little kid inside of her. Jesus comforts them both.

The little girl inside me
Head tilted up to the moon
Mouth open wide
Howling in fear and anger
Fists up in the air

She is scared
So easily frightened
Doesn’t want any attention
Because she fears
It will be bad attention

What do you need, Little One?

Let me pull you close
  And wrap my arms around you
    So you can feel more contained
      And can feel deep pressure 
        From my arms around you

And that will help you feel safer

Backup, Zoey, backup . . .

. . . Ah, yes, I’m remembering that
My little one is little, 
Maybe 2 or 3 years old
She doesn’t need words

Quiet murmurs, 
Comforting sounds she needs,
To soothe her wailing

She is pulled close
  My arms wrap around her body
    Snugging her terrified
      Little body into mine
        Squeezing her
          Firmly and gently

Dancing a bit while
  Carrying her around
    Swaying softly 
      With her cocooned in my arms

Shh, shh, shh—it’s alright
I’ve got you
Shh, shh, shh—it’s alright
You’re safe with me

I croon again and again

She protests for a bit and then whimpers
Howling stops, crying quiets
Little sobs now . . . and then silence
Her face streaked with tears

But now she’s calm
Being held safely in Zoey’s arms

Sensing Jesus’s presence,
Zoey’s body relaxes as He whispers
To both her and the little girl inside

Oh, Little Girl 
What big hard feelings you have!
How scared you must be!

I know it feels like
You are still living
With your angry parent
But you are not—
It’s just a long-ago memory

You are safe with Me
You are safe now

The End

Questions you might consider

• Have you learned to comfort the little child inside you?
• Do you recognize yourself in this?
• What feelings or body sensations do you experience as you read it?
• What does this remind you of in your own life? Any kid or adult memories?
• What part touches your heart or is hard for you?

Feel free to mark this up—make it yours! Put your name in it, rewrite passages, cross out what doesn’t apply. If there is someone you think would be encouraged by this, please share!