The dreams of an African child… FOOD
What does an African child dream about?
We will find out in this new column, by Xaverian missionary Father Oliviero Ferro
And when we understand that dreams (but not rights and possibilities) are the same as those of our children, it will be time to wake up and perform works of mercy.
Because through them, an African child (and others) will be able to live in the joy of being able to dream of something that can become possible
It seems easy to say that everyone has a right to bread, to daily food. But if you are a child, everything becomes more difficult.
The child is in the lowest part of the ranking. First there is the father, then the men, the mother, the women, the older brothers and sisters. And then, good last, the child.
He too dreams of being able to eat according to his appetite, but it often remains a dream. It is a bit like the Syro-Phoenician woman said to Jesus, “Even little dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
This is often the case, because you are a child, you don’t count for anything. Indeed, often your presence is seen as a disturbance to the older ones. Perhaps, they have forgotten that they too were children one day.
In short, the little one always has to suffer, hoping one day to grow up.
This can be seen when invited into a family or during big lunches. Children are always the last to be served, if there is anything left afterwards.
In the parish, during the holidays, we try to remember them. Moms make popcorn and roasted bananas with peanuts. They put them in little bags and at the end they are distributed to the children. It’s not much, but at least they too can party with others.
Perhaps, if there was less selfishness, children would also be considered more.
Let us not forget Jesus’ famous phrase, “Unless you make yourselves like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”
These words don’t really appeal to grown-ups.
But at the end of life, as we are also reminded in the parable of the rich man and the poor man, things will change. And the little ones, the children, will have the best place.
Of course, we do not have to wait until that time.
We are invited to fulfill this dream of the children: to give them daily food.
They will thank you with a smile.
Source
Image
- Photo by Emanuela /Cmd Venezia)
- digitally created by spazio + spadoni