Sometimes kids just get it better than adults

"I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood." (Martin Luther King, "I Have a Dream" excerpt)

"Did he ever get to sit down at that table of brotherhood?"

Tears welled up in my eyes as she, a third grader, asked the question. She said it with such innocence and yet the weight of the question was so heavy. What do you say to that?

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. (Martin Luther King, "I Have a Dream" excerpt)

"I think it means that people should be judged based on what they do and not what they look like... what's on their inside, not the outside."

Amen. As this third grader shared his understanding of the MLK quote, I was left speechless, determined to remember it word for word so I could jot it down on a piece of paper as soon as I got back to my desk. I had chills.

While discussing the initiative to eliminate the homeless from the streets in Columbia, the kids seemed to be pretty unified in their view on the subject. "I think they should just help them instead." Yeah, me too, kid.

Because sometimes kids just get it so much better than adults. Their view isn't skewed by having to make this committee or that person happy. They see an injustice and it's as simple as that. There should be a solution. They should help them. People should be judged on their inside, not their outside; what they do, not what they look like.

Yeah, sometimes kids just get it better than adults.

Kids React

Discussions like this are one of the many reasons I love working with kids. 

A Letter to Lali

Over three years ago now, I spent a month in Georgia (the country) loving on some sweet orphans. Best summer of my life. I loved all the kids, but one little girl stole my heart. Her name was Lali. She changed my life. Some days, my heart still physically hurts from missing her. I haven't been able to talk to her since my time there, but if I could get a letter to her, this is what it would say.

Lali and I on our last day together

Lali,

I can’t believe it’s been three years since we met, sweet child. I miss you more every day. I never knew I could love someone as much as I love you, Lali. I hope you know that you are very, very loved. I think about you often, even three years after returning to the States. I wonder how you’re doing, what you’re learning in school, if you're still at the orphanage in Tskneti, and a thousand other things about you. I hate I had to leave you, Lali. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do. I never thought that after three years, the hole in my heart would still be this big after leaving you. But I think it just gets bigger as time goes on.

I think of you like a daughter, Lali. I love you like you are my daughter. I pray for you like you’re my daughter. In my heart, you will always be my first child. You were the first girl who ever called me “Mommy.” I will never forget how that felt and how my heart immediately changed when you called me your mother.

I still have the necklace you gave me the first day we met. Of all the necklaces I own, it's my favorite. I still have the book of pictures you drew for me. I keep a framed picture of us together. I even brought it all the way to Zambia with me when I lived there. You mean more to me than I think you will ever know.

You are a firecracker, child. Use that energy and fire for something good. You can change the world if you want to. I know you can. People listen to you and are drawn to you. Be a leader and lead them to good things. Treat others with kindness. Love people even when they don’t deserve it. Forgive the people who hurt you. Be a force for good, sweet girl.

I love you so much, Lali. More than you will ever know. Follow Jesus, sweet girl. I pray that somehow you can find the truth about who He is and follow Him. You could change the world for Jesus, Lali. I’m begging God to show Himself to you and for you to know and trust Him. Because God has great plans for you, little girl. Find Him and follow after Him with all your heart.

I love you forever,

Melanie

“Mommy”