He was sitting in one corner of the yard holding a bowl of porridge with a piece of bread, but his sad appearance told me he was not registered with our ministry.
Refugee children with bowls of porridge.
He had surely been coming there every day the child development center was open to have something to eat, but I quickly discovered that he was seeking something more.
When he saw us getting out of the car, he came straight to us and said, “Please, I want to come here every Thursday and join the other children to sing, learn biblical stories, and have some food. They are privileged to be loved.”
I was really moved by his statement. I told him, “We love you, too. Who told you that you are not loved?”
He replied, “My father told me that I am not his son, and he sent my mother away. Please, I want to experience the love and care that my friends are experiencing here.”
These kinds of stories number in the thousands. What strengthens me is that those children can have a place where they can at least come to feel the love of Jesus.
As requested by the Lord through His servant Paul in 1 Thessalonians 3:12, may we increase and abound in love to one another and to all.
Many children out there are requesting love, true and genuine love. This makes me think about this saying of Gabriela Mistral: “We are guilty of many errors and many faults, but our worst crime is abandoning the children, neglecting the foundation of life. Many of the things we need can wait. The child cannot.
Right now is the time his bones are being formed, his blood is being made, and his senses are being developed. To him we cannot answer, ‘Tomorrow.’ His name is ‘Today.’”
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. — 1 Thessalonians 3:12, NIV
Prayer: Lord, help us show love while serving the children, even though it is challenging!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Issaka Kiemtore is a Health Specialist in our Burkina Faso office.
Read all the One in Spirit devotionals.