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A simple message: Love one another

Patty Meyer writes about one of her most memorable experiences in Haiti:

During a visit to Haiti this spring, I met the two newest additions to the sisterhood of orphans.

A few weeks before my arrival, their aged and blind grandmother had begged their acceptance to the orphanage on behalf of their mother, who had recently died. The oldest was 4, while the youngest was a few months away from being the tender age of 2.

While the eldest, Charlanda, had moments when I saw her interacting with the other 30 girls, the youngest often sat alone or seemed to wander aimlessly about the dusty, graveled grounds.

I must admit that I had exhausted my extensive repertoire of "silliness," which had never failed to evoke a smile on a child's face - until now. This dear child's expression of flatness never changed. She rejected all my efforts to hold her in my arms and seemed incapable of receiving human tenderness.

The last day of my stay, I arrived at the orphanage during a meal time. It was then I witnessed the most tender act of love.

This dear child was seated before a dish piled high with rice and beans. Her arms hung at her sides as if weighted and her large, beautiful eyes stared straight ahead.

But the beauty came when I saw her little mouth open, resembling that of a baby bird. There at her side was 3-year-old Cynthia. Cynthia had officially passed on her former title and the attention that one receives as the youngest, and assumed the role of an older sister.

Cynthia presented a heaping spoon of rice to this open mouth. Carefully, Cynthia cupped her other tiny hand under the frail chin of her receiver, hoping to catch any grain that might fall. Then she stood and patiently waited and watched for the little mouth to open again to receive what she had to offer.

As tears streamed down my cheeks, I witnessed firsthand what it means to "feed" someone with love.

There are many times in life when we need to be fed and other times when, despite who we are and our capabilities, we are called to feed. May each of us respond should we find a person who represents the frailty of a baby bird by recalling what it felt like when we were fed.

The simplicity of "Love one another."



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Marie's Angel - Patty Meyer
A simple message: Love one another Patty Meyer writes about one of her most memorable experiences in Haiti: During a visit to Haiti this spring, I met the two newest additions to the sisterhood of orphans. A few weeks before my arrival, their aged and blind grandmother had begged their acceptance to the orphanage on behalf of their mother, who had recently died. The oldest was 4, while the youngest was a few months away from being the tender age of 2. While the eldest, Charlanda, had moments when I saw her interacting with the other 30 girls, the youngest often sat alone or seemed to wander aimlessly about the dusty, graveled grounds. I must admit that I had exhausted my extensive repertoire of "silliness," which had never failed to evoke a smile on a child's face - until now. This dear child's expression of flatness never changed. She rejected all my efforts to hold her in my arms and seemed incapable of receiving human tenderness. The last day of my stay, I arrived at the orphanage during a meal time. It was then I witnessed the most tender act of love. This dear child was seated before a dish piled high with rice and beans. Her arms hung at her sides as if weighted and her large, beautiful eyes stared straight ahead. But the beauty came when I saw her little mouth open, resembling that of a baby bird. There at her side was 3-year-old Cynthia. Cynthia had officially passed on her former title and the attention that one receives as the youngest, and assumed the role of an older sister. Cynthia presented a heaping spoon of rice to this open mouth. Carefully, Cynthia cupped her other tiny hand under the frail chin of her receiver, hoping to catch any grain that might fall. Then she stood and patiently waited and watched for the little mouth to open again to receive what she had to offer. As tears streamed down my cheeks, I witnessed firsthand what it means to "feed" someone with love. There are many times in life when we need to be fed and other times when, despite who we are and our capabilities, we are called to feed. May each of us respond should we find a person who represents the frailty of a baby bird by recalling what it felt like when we were fed. The simplicity of "Love one another."

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