One thing, among many, you should know about pre-schoolers in Africa, is that they are some of the most photogenic creations in the world. They LOVE the camera. They LOVE having their picture taken, and even more, they LOVE seeing it afterwards. You could be standing in the middle of a field, not a child in sight, and then as soon as you pull out your camera or iPhone, somehow, you have 40 children surrounding you doing anything and everything to get your attention. “Teacher, Teacher, shoot me, shoot me!”
I spent this month at what they call a Care Point. In the states, we would call it a preschool. We would help the teachers teach the class, and then we would spend the second half of the mornings playing with the kids out on the playground. To be completely honest, at the beginning of the month, my heart wasn’t in it. I was just going through the motions and counting down the minutes. That sounds awful, and I wish that wasn’t true, but that’s where I was at. A couple weeks went by, teaching class, playing with the kids, trying to pronounce names, looking for something to cling to for excitement in the day. It was the same thing day after day. But then, something changed, I don’t know what it was, but I realized I was falling for these kids. I realized that I was excited to hug them and laugh with them, and I realized I wasn’t counting down the minutes anymore. The only explanation I have for that is, that was all God!
All together there are 40 kids who attend the Care Point. But there is one in particular that God grabbed my attention with. His name is Mybongwe. He’s 5 years old and he was my little buddy this month. Every time I walked into the gate of the care point, he would come sprinting at me arms wide open! During play time, he would come find me and we would sing songs (twinkle twinkle little star is his favorite), he would run off to play combat with his boys, and then run right back over to me. Like the rest of them, he too loved the camera and would put on a show every time I took my camera out. However, one day this last week, he did something completely unexpected, and what I believe, was a reminder from God.
Mybongwe had just ran over to chase the other boys, so I went over to record some kids who were on the playground. About 10 minutes later, Mybongwe came over, was hugging my leg, and he was trying to get my attention. I assumed it was because he wanted his picture taken too, but this time it was different. He pointed to my phone, then to my bag, and said “Put it in here.” Then just looked at me with his beautiful brown eyes.
That’s all it took. Those 4 little words hit me hard. I smiled, shook my head and said “yeah, you’re right.” I put my phone in my bag, then he grabbed both of my hands and wrapped them around himself.
I keep reflecting over this moment time and time again and how profound it is. As Americans we are constantly having a conversation about how much time we spend behind a screen. About how many times our actions tell those around us that we are choosing whatever is on the screen over that person that is sitting right next to us. Ill be honest, it’s been a while since I’ve been in the states, so maybe things have gotten better, maybe it’s worse, I don’t know, but here’s what I do know.
As humans, we want to be loved. We want to be known. We want our relationships between family, friends and spouses, to be intentional. Here’s how I know this. By Mybongwe saying those 4 words, here’s what he really communicated to me.
-I can see that it’s your PHONE that is keeping you from loving me right now.
-Yeah, I like my picture taken, but I like being with you and spending time with you more.
-I want your attention. Not your attention for a picture but simply you’re full attention.
-I cant talk to you, sing with you, play with you, when you are taking pictures.
How applicable is that to us in real life. Let’s be honest, no one really LIKES having the conversation of “you’re on your phone too much.” But, maybe we have the wrong perspective about that conversation. What is that conversation REALLY communicating? If you think about it, we should be HONORED that someone is calling us out. Why? Because that means somebody wants your attention, all of your attention. Somebody wants your advice, your opinion, your knowledge, or simply just wants to talk to you. Somebody understands that you have a lot going on in your life, but is asking for some of the time you do have to give. Somebody wants to laugh with you and create memories with you. Somebody wants to KNOW you. Somebody wants to love you and be loved by you.
It makes no difference whether we’re at a preschool in Africa, in an office building in New York City, going out with friends, eating dinner with family, wherever we’re at, chances are we are there with someone who wants our time and attention. We’re blessed to be surrounded with people who want to know us and love us. Keep the phone in the car, take a mental picture instead, store it away in your memory, and give your time and your attention to those who are eager for it. Above all else, don’t miss out on the time you have been given to spend with that person you’re with right now.
