Children Taken for Granted

Meet Princess, my little buddy at work. 

 

This is probably her first time seeing a crayon, and posing in front of a camera too (by the way she growls at me. Lol) Princess often knocks at the glass door of our office around ten in the morning, sticks her face on the glass wall and calls "Ateeeeeeeee" referring to me. Haha. She's often accompanied by her 4yr. old brother (who looks nonetheless good despite the dirt all over them). I was charmed by Princess not only because she looks very cuddly and malambing but also because she (and her brother), unlike the other street kids, doesn't ask for money or food but just for my attention. She smiles and laughs whenever I play and talk with her. She doesn't necessarily respond but you could tell by the way she smiles that she's enjoying the conversation. When not in the mood, she would just ignore my attempts to annoy her and holds her tears under her breath which might be because her brother is with his other playmates. She's so clingy! 😊 

This reminds me that an innate nature of a child is to stick to those who are taking care for her. And when she loses their attention, she would do something to attract them. I'm not a child expert nor close to being one, but my heart clenches seeing that as young as her age she's not getting the proper nutrients and guidance she ought to have. Her lola's taking care of her and her two other siblings while their parents roam the streets selling bottled water buying drugs from the meager income they get. 

There's so much more to tell about her story but beyond all those, she reminds me of the innocence of a child around her surroundings, how everything is less complicated and beauty in small things can easily be appreciated. Something which an adult life can never go back again.... We adults can always choose to embody the virtues of a child, but with this harsh reality of selfish people with greedy needs, we just have to protect and fight for ourselves. If we center our life to Jesus Christ and be his disciple, life would be totally different, much more simpler and peaceful.

This should be the ideal but is easier said than done :-/