These feet tell a story.
A story of hunger and abandonment.
A story of hope and love.
These feet belong to one of my six year old students. He’s smart, kind, and loves deeper than any other student in the class. He walks 4 miles alone to and from school every single day. Some days he wears a big cheesy smile while singing and dancing with his classmates, but most days he sleeps trough class and has no energy to interact with his friends.
He often times cries because of the pain in his stomach. The pains from not eating and being malnourished. His parents left him to be raised by his grandmother, who is also taking care of seven other children. She loves them greatly and tries her best, but she doesn’t have money and struggles to provide the basic needs for these children.
These feet our tired. Tired of feeling alone. Tired of the constant pain in his stomach from not eating. Tired because he has no energy after a long walk to school with an empty tummy in 100 degree weather.
These feet have faced more trials and hardships in their six years of life than most people do in their entire life. But, in the midst of great tragedy, these feet have spread joy to everyone they have met. They’ve danced with me, laughed with me, and gave the best cuddles this month.
I have seen God’s love so evidently through these feet. As he sings praises to our God and beams with joy, I am reminded of our fathers unending love for us. I am reminded that although our flesh may fail our God will not. That although the world is full of hurt and unthinkable tragedy, the joy of the Lord will be our strength if we allow it. I pray that these feet will always know that they have a Heavenly Father who loves them unconditionally. I pray that he will find his worth in Him, and continue to look to Him for his joy and strength. I pray that God will bring complete healing to his precious body, and that God will make a way for his grandmother to find work to provide.
These feet our beautiful and they’re going to change the world some day!
Joyfully His,
Liz
