I heard there was an extra spot for the afternoon feeding so I joined the group and walked to the middle of the neighborhood where the food was being distributed.
As the children ran out from streets and houses, I watched in silence as they waited in line for their turn. I watched their faces as they held up their coffee mugs, plastic bags, Tupperware, bowls… The full, soup container would soon be empty again just like the stomachs of these children.
This harsh reality left me speechless, standing helplessly off to the side lost in my own thoughts…
What could I do? What happens the rest of the week? How many meals are missed until the next feeding? Which children would go home wondering when their next filling meal would be?
What do I do?
…She wore a pink dress with a blue headband in her hair. When I finally became aware that this moment was happening right in front of me and quickly passing me by I smiled at this little girl standing in line holding a green cup. I asked her name and introduced myself. After eating her meal she walked up quietly with two friends by her side. Whispering with each other they looked at me and then finally she smiled up at me…”Michelle?!” .
Accepting the invitation to play I responded taking their hands in mine. After spinning and dancing in a circle the laughter settled and some of my teammates and some other sweet smiles joined in.
…”You put your right leg in, you put your right leg out, you put your right leg in and you shake it all about. You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around…
“That’s What it’s all about.”
I must admit that I have never had so much fun doing the hokey pokey, I was lost in the smiles, laughs and voices of these beautiful little girls, momentarily forgetting about the empty bowls and coffee mugs…
Then as we walked away the questions returned. So now what? I go home and possibly forget about these moments? Or do I take action? If so what does that look like… Sponsoring a child, supporting a ministry, or maybe something more bold such as starting my own ministry or serving with a ministry long term?
These questions are the kind that have started to fill my mind and stir within my heart. As scary and tough as the questions can be, I am so thankful for them. I hope they never stop… I pray that I never forget.
Regardless of where I am or what I am doing. I have the opportunity to take action. Yesterday included a game of hokey pokey and some improvised dancing… Who knows what tomorrow will hold.
I am excited to see what God has in store. I never want to forget and I hope to continue asking daily “what can I do”… cause that’s what it’s all about.
