Just a Bit...

Just a bit short. Just a bit long.
Just a bit tattered. Just a bit dirty.
Just a bit baggy. Just a bit tight.
Just a bit used. Just a bit wrinkled.
Just a bit holy. Just a bit barefoot.
Just a bit mismatched. Just a bit missing.

Nearly 60 primary school children come through the doors at the Masealama Drop-In Center, eager for their plate of food, just a bit of pap and just a bit of soup.

When I heard the number of children coming to the center each day had more than doubled from last year’s average of 25, my initial reaction was... that is great we are able to provide a meal for so many children. But I quickly realized what that actually meant - we were serving to 60 orphans and vulnerable children. How can I be happy that in a few short months the number of orphans and vulnerable children in my community doubled?

But they all have a smile.

The children there have such a wonderful spirit - singing, playing, laughing and always smiling... simply full of joy. From the image I have described you can see that they have much to be discouraged about, yet they find joy, peace, and happiness. Where does this come from? Perhaps they appreciate what they do have, rather than focusing on what they do not.

Their glass is half full.

What does it mean to be an orphan or vulnerable child? An orphaned child is a child who does not have parents to provide them with a place to stay nor food on the table, whether their parents have passed away or, sadly, kicked them out of the home. A vulnerable child is one who may have parents and a pad to sleep on, but is often neglected by his/her parents or whose parents cannot afford to put food on the table for them.

Yet they sing, "I’ve got joy, peace, and happiness in my soul.”

These children are inspiring, to have so little yet be so happy. They trust in the Lord, knowing that He will provide for them all that they need. They don’t have just a bit of joy, peace, and happiness; they are full of all three.

And they've got me singing too - I've got joy...