The gift of self

This is one of our children (the older sister) who regularly attends the weekly children ministry. She is one of many children who bring their younger brothers and sisters to the sessions even though these sessions are prepared for their (9 and above) age group.

While the teachings, activities, singing is happening, these older ones take care of their younger ones as a parent would take care of their own. Often they cannot participate in games, sometimes while doing the activity, they run off halfway after the younger ones, sometimes running home for a quick change of clothes once the young ones soil them.

All part and parcel of life here.

These older ones are giving the gift of themselves, learning from this early an age the gift of self sacrifice. Often I think of children of the same age in other more progressive countries, where all they need to concentrate on is their school work and how sibling rivalry is so rampant.