back to earth.......

my friend Monique did this layout during the December holidays. she is a phenomenal scrapper. very detailed and precise. and if you want to know how glossy accents works - she made the most fabulous gift for me that showcases her detailed (surgeon's) hand and i love showing it off. this layout was done of her 9 year old son, CJ, enjoying himself on the beach during their holiday in Jeffreys Bay. so carefree and thoroughly enjoying himself. the way life should be when you are that age. today at church, a 6 year old boy had a very different experience. i am in charge of the kids. i hug them, berate them, (try to) keep them quiet and slightly ordened, and allow bathroom breaks. they are all from the poorest of the poor township areas in Humansdorp. most of them have parents who are HIV positive or already not there anymore, or just plain useless. they are all underfed and under-loved. once a week i try to overdose them on hugs and praise and love. ( i sometimes wonder if it really makes a difference, but i suppose it eases my conscience just a bit and as i also get loads of hugs from little kids, at least i get alot from it (selfishly!!!)) today Justin had a little (HUGE) accident in his pants. a very messy one. he is going to grade one. if you could see him - he looks 3-4 years old. skinny as a chicken bone. all the kids laughed at him. i took him to the bathroom. i have never changed a baby's nappy. i am not used to kids - apart from hugging them on Sundays when they are as clean and dressed up as they possibly can be - and the kids of my colleagues, clients and friends. this was a surreal experience. i grabbed a dish swab and some Dettol hand wash ( it was closest to me). i made him undress and put him in the basin ( yes, he fits). he was covered in his own excrement. i washed him down. i washed his tracksuit pants. when i asked him where his underwear was, he whispered that he had thrown it faaaaarrrr away. i washed him again. i washed his tracksuit pants again. i hugged him and told him it was ok while i dried his tears of shame. and i kept asking God - i have never even changed a nappy, why are You making me do this? and i kept hearing the same answer - to bring you back to earth. it has been a recurring theme the past 5 weeks ( between God and me) He is slowly getting me off higher ground and back to solid ground. where i need to be. grounded in Him. and as i was looking for a layout to share tonight, i realised something when i found this one - Justin has lived less than 15km from the beach his whole short life. he has never been to the beach. CJ lives 1200 km from the beach and he comes at least once a year. CJ has a mother who dotes on him. when i asked Justin where his mom was, he whispered that she was "home". and i wondered what Justin's life will be like. where will he end up. i am glad i was there to help him clean up. it was not a pleasant experience, i promise you. but seeing his selfrespect restored when i walked back into church in front of all the kids, holding his hand and giving him a big kiss when i put him back on his seat, made me realise that God sent me straight back to where i was supposed to be. back to earth. on ground level. helping one person at a time. with God's help. Jesus came to save each one of us - individually. not collectively. i would like to salute the people who do these things for a living - cleaning up old and young alike - the people working in children's homes, old age homes, homes for the disabled, etc. we take being able to perform basic functions for granted. i think the people that do those jobs must be really grounded in Him. i want to be as grounded. xxxxxxxxxxx