One Little Girl
Playing with the children one night, I noticed one small girl in particular. As we sang songs, she would shyly smile at me, and then look away. Her dark hair and bangs framed a gorgeous little face. Her slightly slanted jet-black eyes would dance every time I smiled at her. I noticed how she did not interact much with the other children. I made it a point to pay extra attention to her, noticing her apparent insecurities. I would reach over and pinch her arm to get her attention and then smile at her, and her smile would melt my heart! Another day, at one of the meetings, she made another little girl move over so that she could sit next to me. Ever after that one memorable night, she would always follow me around and want to be right next to me. What a little love can do to an insecure heart!
Little Boy Number 1
Another day I was helping lead out with the younger children. As we were singing songs, the girls and some of the boys were enjoying it immensely. There were some trouble-maker boys who were getting bored and punching and pushing each other around. I stared him down and shook my head but then I smiled at him. His round face was very hardened, his eyes empty. As I looked at him, thoughts were running through my mind. I wondered what his home life was life, or what had happened to him in these last few years. I wanted to just go and give him a hug and tell him that Jesus loves him. I could tell that he wanted to be loved and accepted. I kept looking at him and smiling, and finally he started smiling back. A couple days later, I heard a very sad story. When this boy was little, he had been put into a cage and his parents had had beaten him and starved him. Something happened to his parents and an army sergeant took him to the school (where we were teaching) and enrolled him there. The first day he attended the school, he was very anti-social. Then he started throwing sand at all the children and would not leave the sand-box. They tried to get him to stop, but he would not quit. One of the teachers went to prepare for disciplining him, and he ran from the sand-box and hid. A couple other teachers found him, and talked to him, had prayer with him, and finally convinced him to apologize to the students. Little by little, Momo, one of the teachers, has been showing him special love. Each day he attends school, she goes out of her way to spend time with him. He is a village student, so it is more difficult, but she does what she can. He has gotten friendlier, but he still will pull away as she gives him a hug in the morning. He does not say “thank you” for things that she gives him, either. We will just give him time. He is slowly responding to love.
Little Boy Number 2
One little child was sitting there playing with some toys, but not saying a word. His friends were all around him, talking and laughing, but he just watched them and played. When I smile at him, he flashes me a big toothy grin, but does not say much to anyone. Not long ago, his mother died and not he has a step-mother. We do not know what the situation is at home, but this little boy is very withdrawn.
What About Me?
There are so many stories like these in the lives of children. Which child are you like? Do you pull away from the Lord when He shows you His love? Do you just close up in your own little shell? Do you avoid anything that would remind you of Him and His love? Jesus knows what you have been through! He understands that you have had much pain and suffering, and even if you have stepped away from Him, He is still there telling you to follow Him. Think of what He has been through for you! Won’t you quickly respond when Jesus calls you and shows you His love?
