Bones & Happiness
Why can’t we live in a society where hot dogs are our currency? (anyone remember that one from SNL?) really, or cheerio’s or ANYthing besides stupid bills and clankin coins. And could we please just not completely jettison credit cards and checks? I hate them all. (Boy, rainy Monday? Or just maybe a bad mood. Or more specifically, a bad mood re: money.) It’s not that I don’t like math or balancing a checkbook or anything; I actually like doing both. It’s the incessant cycle of bad spending habits and therefore being IN THE RED continuously that I dislike. (and who doesn’t?) don’t get me wrong—doug and I haven’t put a hat at the end of our driveway or anything…truly we are so very wealthy, and that’s part of what my issues are, really. the Lord has given me a few eye-openers lately, the most recently being in the form of two incredible nine-year-old girls from Uganda. Last Monday-Wednesday, we were a host home to them and to one of their chaperones, who is from the Philippines. The three are part of one of the Children of the World choirs, under the organization called World Help (www.worldhelp.net), and they’re currently on a 10-month tour of the U.S. to raise awareness & funds for hungry, homeless, and orphaned children. (Joan and Teo are the first two on the second row in the above picture.) Because the leaders told us not to ask the children about their home lives, I do not actually know what their normal living environments are like. But I do know that they are both orphans, and they both have SEVERAL siblings. So…think, 3rd world country + previously stated information = [according to U.S. standards] “EXTREMELY POOR.” What struck me about these girls more than anything else was their happiness and laughter. Besides being literally the most incredible dancers I’ve ever seen, they laugh heartier and louder than all the richest men in the world combined. Their precious hearts (especially Teo’s, if I might be so bold as to choose a favourite) are so consumed with joy and love despite the events and possibly “God-forsaken” surroundings they have already experienced at such a young age. One might argue, “Well, I’m sure I would be that way, too, if I had been momentarily plucked from such a horrible life and put on an all-expense paid trip around the U.S.” Although I was only with these girls for a short time, I believe with all my heart that the way they behaved around me is exactly the way they behave at home. Their prayers were priceless, their hugs were immeasurably warm and loving, and their grateful attitudes were matchless. Oh, to be that rich.
all for now @
9:58 AM
0 comment(s):
Post a comment
<< Home