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Last week I decided to celebrate my birthday with a group of newly found friends.
But what was meant to be a casual and cheery occasion became more of a humbling experience as we began talking.
I asked Nunoy, who was 10 and the oldest in the group, what he wanted to be when he grew up.
"My dream?" he asked, "A doctor."
Then he looked at me and in his eyes I could see, a sense of dejection as if certain that, that dream would never become a reality.
I asked another boy Jonas, what his dream was; he simply shook his head and said he had none.
What I heard and saw that afternoon broke my heart.
Nunoy and Jonas, along with Balong, Kayong, Rayan and Haidi are just a few of the thousands of children living on the streets of Manila.
In a day where it is never enough, where the minds of people are engulfed by self, fortune, and recognition, they fail to see and to appreciate what they already have.
Watching the children as they relished in what seemed to be a great luxury to them, my thoughts went beyond myself. I thought of how we whine and complain about our lives, the very lives these children would do anything to be in, even if it was just for a day.
So this year what I want, is not to sit at the table of an expensive dinner, or own the latest electronic gadget.
What I want, is to relate this experience- in hopes of those reading would learn and strive to practice greater selflessness, deeper understanding, compassion, and love for one another .
But what was meant to be a casual and cheery occasion became more of a humbling experience as we began talking.
I asked Nunoy, who was 10 and the oldest in the group, what he wanted to be when he grew up.
"My dream?" he asked, "A doctor."
Then he looked at me and in his eyes I could see, a sense of dejection as if certain that, that dream would never become a reality.
I asked another boy Jonas, what his dream was; he simply shook his head and said he had none.
What I heard and saw that afternoon broke my heart.
Nunoy and Jonas, along with Balong, Kayong, Rayan and Haidi are just a few of the thousands of children living on the streets of Manila.
In a day where it is never enough, where the minds of people are engulfed by self, fortune, and recognition, they fail to see and to appreciate what they already have.
Watching the children as they relished in what seemed to be a great luxury to them, my thoughts went beyond myself. I thought of how we whine and complain about our lives, the very lives these children would do anything to be in, even if it was just for a day.
So this year what I want, is not to sit at the table of an expensive dinner, or own the latest electronic gadget.
What I want, is to relate this experience- in hopes of those reading would learn and strive to practice greater selflessness, deeper understanding, compassion, and love for one another .
5 comments:
Great stuff Yvonne-
You are living a grand life ~
Hey Duke,
Long time. How's the missus?
Anyway, thanks for the kind words.
Really appreciate it.
Y
Hey Y!
The mere fact that it struck a profound chord in your heart for those little young men in Manila, and you spending just that one day with them has resonated some form of hope in their hearts, that God loves them a whole lot. Great job!
xx
Nisha B.
hey ..nice blog
just happened to come accross
The thought that comes from the deepest heart even though in a short time, it illustrates the spirit and sincerity of personal character, you high-minded woman. happy birthday.
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