Others First: Thailand

Did you know I’m not really a ‘kid’ person? I don’t considermyself someone who really enjoys being around children. Being the one who hasto entertain a child for really any period of time, and the idea of having oneof my own, just seems so ridiculous I often laugh at the idea of it.

Why am I not a kid person? No reason in particular—I’venever had a bad experience with children and there have been notraumatic events. I treat children like humans (as they are) and they generallyrespond well. Any child I tend to be around kind of understands I amsomeone they can sit with, but if they want to play around a bunch, they should findsomeone else. Bottom line, if there were a hyperactive child around who yells,runs, and is constantly up to shenanigans, I would choose to not bearound.  Does this all sounds harsh?Perhaps. I don’t think people say things like this out loud so it is something we don't becomefamiliar with hearing, even though they may be feeling it. 

If you aren’t a kid person, you probably understandwhere I am coming from and you probably understand what it is like to hear fromfolks with, or without, kids that you will surely become a kid person one dayand basically become Mother Goose and Mother Theresa in one. While it’s true, you may change and become the most amazingperson with children ever (!!) it’s also true you just might not. 

Both of these are OK. 

I know enough kid people to keep the kids in our liveshappy. To be the most effective in serving other people and adhering to thegifts and talents I have been given, I know my strength is to stick to treatingchildren like adults.

Want to talk about how you are, how your day is? Come ondown.

Want to just sit with someone and not even have aconversation? I’m your lady.

Want to hug, cuddle, or hold hands for a while without doinganything else? Come at me, bro!

I am so down for these simple acts of love that make adifference.

What’s the most funny about all of this ‘not a kid person’businesses is how, in Thailand, I volunteer at a children’s home.

What I find to be the best is that I don’t have to be a ‘kidperson’ to hang out with these kids and get along with them. We sit together,hold hands, colour in silence, hug it out, and simply smile at each other toshare moments. I don’t have to run around and play games (although when it’sorganized game time I do and it’s enjoyable). I also don’t have to come up witha million different things to do to keep them occupied. It’s simple. It’scomfortable.

After Hair-Braiding, these little ladies brought me a bottle of water (which I never had to carry or open) and picked flowers for all of us to wear in our hair. Loving & Serving.

Being comfortable at the children’s home is something ourvolunteers find easy. The kids are the most welcoming, gracious,others-centered human beings you will meet. Notice I didn’t say ‘children you will meet’, I do mean people. Thesechildren are being raised in an environment that has a ‘love filter’ on everythingthey do. From serving meals and chores to general playtime, the idea of someone else coming before you is a concept they easily live out. It’s secondnature to them—and it’s convicting for me. As an individual who strives to livean others-centered life I can say, with all amount of honesty in me, these kidsput me to shame. Their priority is always to love people and ensure thosearound them are doing well before they think of themselves. When it’s amealtime they ensure the other kids around them (especially the littleones) are ready to go. When it’s time to do an activity it’s ensuredeveryone around them knows what is going on and can fully participate with allthe resources necessary (sharing is caring—even with oil paints and glue). Whenguests are around, ensuring they feel like they fit in, helping them figurethings out and mesh with the routine is a priority you can feel.

Thanks Pinterest!

It’s truly incredible to experience yourself being theindividual put first when the person putting you first is around 10 yearsold—or younger. When the person taking care of you (ensuring you are beingwell fed, hydrated and pampered with coffee, cookies, and the best seat in thehouse) is younger then half your age you feel a few things—humbled, convicted,gracious, and a sense of ‘wow, I have a lot to learn’. The way I feel I canlearn so much from the kids around me at the home is quite awesome. It remindsme of the following scripture:

"And Hecalled a little child to Himself and put him in the midst of them Andsaid, Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and becomelike little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enterthe kingdom of heaven [at all]. Whoeverwill humble himself therefore and become like this little child [trusting,lowly, loving, forgiving] is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 18:2-4 (AMP)

I believe thecharacteristics the children at the home display are contributing factors towhat the Bible has to say about having child-like faith. The ease of sharingand caring, loving and accepting, and mostly prioritizing others are the simplethings children can do without giving it another thought. It’s often adults,tainted by our history and perceptions, which cause us to loosethat child-like wonder.  What is evenmore amazing is these kids have every reason to not act like this. Theassumption is their previous exploitative or at-risk situations would make themact the exact opposite! Talk about really being put to shame in how we act!

Let’s strive to put others first, always. I know I will think back to this time in Thailand and use the children’s acts of selfless kindness as my inspiration and example of every-day simple ways I can put others first. It doesn’t have to be some huge expression, some elaborate display of selflessness—it’s the simple things that can consistently show the most love, the most kindness, the most priority of serving others first.

Thanks Pinterest!