A Time For Dancing

This has been a tough week, but I do not want to talk about the tough parts. Rather, let me tell you about a special moment in that week.

On Monday morning, Vivianne and I were in the big nursery brushing the children's teeth. Close-by, a radio was playing Haitian worship music. One year old Rose-Derline began clapping to the beat. Well, this needs to be encouraged, I thought. Rose-Derline came to us in February from the Bresma orphanage. She was malnourished, extremely quiet and ever watchful. Recently she has began coming out of her shell. She is smiling, laughing and playful. I began clapping along too. Emboldened to have someone follow her actions, Rose-Derline began to dance, and before she knew it, so did the rest of us.

For a few minutes, I forgot that I don't do that sort of thing. When the music stopped, two year old Mishno fell recklessly into my arms, laughing, as the rest of our older babies swarmed in, to embrace me, giggling and smiling. I thought to myself, isn't it so great to be a child?

The dancing was carefree, not restrained, and joyful, as sliding down a banister or singing in the shower. It was emotional expression instead of constraint, and a release that overcame that resolve not to let anything out, for fear of unleashing a tidal wave.

For a brief period in the day, playfulness was allowed to enter a grown-up world, and burdens were lifted.

Isn't it great to be a child? At least, childhood should be great, and yet, too many children, lose their joy and their playfulness to our cruel world. I am thankful, oh so thankful for everyone at GLA and for those who support us from afar, for making it possible for a few Haitian children to experience the fun of their childhood a second time.