The Toddler and the Toad

Everyday on my way to my office, I see this child. He must be two or three years old. You can always find him by the road side near his home – happily playing. The house this child lives in and the dresses that he wears, no doubt, say that he is born into a very poor family. When most of the other children in this campus are growing up well, I always wonder what would be going through this child’s mind when he sees them. There are other children like him too, living in this same locality, under the same poor conditions. Though all these children play happily around their homes, I have seen their sad faces many a times. What would they all be thinking seeing the children with better living standards? Is is that, “I am unfortunate that I was born in this family”?

Even during the winter these children do not wear good warm clothes, because their parents cannot afford them. I always get the feeling that these children “just grow”. Because, compared to the children from good houses, they receive less care or no care at all. You can always see these children roaming around and playing in the street.

I also used to wonder with what would these children play? I have seen these children playing with some thrown away thing, that they would have pick from the bin. The other day, I saw a boy dragging something and making sound as if driving a vehicle. He had tied a rope to a cardboard box and that was his truck!

Now, coming back to this child of whom I began; sometimes when both our eyes meet – it doesn’t happen often, because for him to see he needs to lift his head and for me to look into him I need to stoop down – he would give a broad smile, an innocent and a happy one; but sometimes doubtful. One day, many months back, I borrowed a bike from one of my colleague and was driving to my home, hurriedly. He was standing by the roadside and I drove past him, speedily. After I reached my building, which is some 12 to 15 metres away from his hut, he fell down and started to cry – probably he was startled by the speed & sound of the bike. I felt so bad that day for making him cry.

I always used to ask God like “Lord, why is it that there are so many children like this child who are living in poor conditions, devoid of care, basic needs and a happy childhood?” The thing that these children do not even have good toys makes me very sad. But the other day what I saw was amazing. This child was laughing and playing and was trying to catch something and he succeeded too. He was playing with a toad in his hand. He was catching it and then dropping it and as it was hopping, he was laughing and then he was going behind it and was catching it. He was having real fun, but there were tears in my eyes. Ah, how good God is! Toad as a toy for a toddler! I understood that He doesn’t deprive anyone of love and happiness. In His own, amazing way He supplies & satisfies people. May be, as God sent the big fish to save Jonah, so he sent the toad to this child to see him smile! And He also brings people like you and me into the lives of such children & people, hoping that we would understand His purpose and would help them.

May be our children wear frog costumes and walk in the fancy dress row or watch ‘The Princess and The Frog’ the television show or as all boys, bored playing with the exquisite toys, they might catch frogs! But here are children who have nothing but these dirty toads to play with!

God has given riches to some, so that they would share it with those who are poor. He has given education to some, so that they would educate the others. He has given opportunities to some, so that they would create opportunities for those who lack. He has given privileges & advantages to some, so that they would help the underprivileged & disadvantaged. He has blessed some, so that they would bless others. And there is more joy in giving, than receiving and especially in giving to the poor and the needy.

The Bible says, “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” Proverbs 19:17 (ESV)

“You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’” Deuteronomy 15:10-11 (ESV)

I have resolved to help these children, in all ways possible and to start with I have planned to buy toys for these children. What is it that you have resolved today to help the poor and the needy? Our one small act of love can bring smile in their faces. Would you like to be a smile-bringer?