Through the eyes of a Thembelihle
Through our childish eyes we see so much differently than we see through our grown up, “mature” eyes.
I can remember being a little girl,
running around with my 7 curls bouncing around on my head,
without a care in the world.
I would run and play,
sing silly songs,
play barbies,
pretend to be a teacher,
dance like no one was watching,
I could do anything I wanted and I didn’t care what it looked like.
I was free!
Everything in my life could be blowing up,
but because I was only a child
those things didn’t matter.
Thats the way children all over the world are.
We are working with children here in Nsoko.
We actually live on the same compound as the pre-school.
Every morning I get woken up by the sound of laughter and children playing outside my window.
Although it is 7AM and my selfish self wants to continue sleeping,
I remember that I will never wake up to that sound again.
I have a little friend here,
Her name is Thembelihle
and she is only maybe 3 years old.
She comes strolling up to the compound everyday,
usually wearing a ratted dress
or just a t-shirt.
She usually comes in late,
but sooner or later she makes it here
with a smile the size of Texas on her face.
Something about her intrigued me from the first day I saw her.
I began to ask my teammates if they saw her,
and if they knew her name or where she comes from.
No one seemed to know anything about her,
but everyone knew who I was talking about because of her big smile
with teeth that are literally full grown adult teeth.
I have learned a little bit about her story though through the grapevine.
Her father is dead and her mother is an alcoholic.
I’m not sure if she has siblings,
but from what I hear she just romes around the streets.
Basically she is an independent 3 year old.
But she is so joyful and full of life.
I can’t imagine what it would be like to be 3 and on my own.
I think back to my childhood and how I looked at life,
how nothing mattered.
I can’t help but wonder if Thembelihle sees life the same way.
I mean she has no problem playing and laughing with the other children,
but does she even know what her life is like?
I guess that is the contrast between her “child-like” mind
and my “grown-up mature” mind.
I see it as lets help her and clothe her and make her life better,
and she just sees it as another day living the dream.
She has faith like a child.
She has joy that a child should have.
Aren’t we all called to be like that?
Aren’t we all called to live with child-like faith.
To live as if all that mattered was laughing and playing and singing and dancing,
and all the mess of the things going on around us would work themselves out
because we serve a God that is faithful.
Through my friend Thembelihle I am reminded of the faithfulness of God.
I am reminded that living with the pure, innocent mind of a child is the life I am called to live.
How can I bring a pure heart to God
if it is weighed down with the harsh fears this world has placed in it?
I see in the big dark eyes of my 3 year old friend
joy and happiness
strength and hope.
I see a pure and innocent heart
that I long to have.
I always joke that I am still a child at heart,
because I love to swing and play and color.
But when it comes to my faith I forget to bring my child-like heart.
Thats what I want,
thats where my childish ways really matter.
Thembelihle may never remember that she met me,
and she may never even know my name.
But I will never forget her,
and I will never forget the sweet reminder that the Lord brought through her.
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit withing me.” Psalm 51:10
“Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; surely in vain have I washed my hands in innocence” Psalm 73:13
