I wish
I wish Christmas mornings belonged to you.
Tossing and turning all night in bed,
Kinda asleep, but not really, anxiously awaiting for morning to close the gap between you and Santa's yearly delivery.
Taking that new, electric blue Schwinn out for a spin,
And caroling away the one day that comes and goes much too soon…
I wish Saturday morning cartoons belonged to you,
That Sacred Sabbath from school and chores and all other childhood bores.
Or sodas that spoil your dinner,
Friday night pizza,
And shopping for back to school…
How I wish my childhood delights belonged to you.
I wish full sized beds with warm sheets,
And postered walls with your favorite band from Teen Beat belonged to you.
Even the simple things:
3 meals a day and a decent pair of shoes,
Clean drinking water to quench your thirst after recess at school,
Why can't these things belong to you?
What can I do?
This is Milly and Fred. Both live well below poverty level on any country's economic scale. They each get a cup of porridge (thick, milky drink) for lunch and a bowl of beans for dinner…everyday the same. Milly sleeps at school on a metal bed frame because they currently cannot afford mattresses. Fred walks around barefoot due to no money for shoes. His feet are calloused and swollen…always.
I met Milly and Fred while teaching African American poetry in Uganda. Both are A students with bright futures ahead because, though they seemingly lack much, they belong to God and He belongs to them. Now that he has placed them in my heart I plan to be a part of their lives as long as I live, Lord willing.
