Joy to my world

The kids did it again. They surprised us with the numbers of them. It’s the last day of school and many kids were absent but not our kids – they were all there with both 4th and 5th graders coming to both classes plus other children.

It was also a mixed emotion day for me. I ask Mama Tess to please have one of the students mother stop by today so I could give them a gift. The little boy whose name is Joseph lives with his mom (father unknown) and I believe one older sister or brother (not sure which one). His mom isn’t always home cause she had several jobs some that take her out of the home even at nighttime. So, Joseph (5th grader) spends much of his time alone even in his house.

I learned she wasn’t coming and I didn’t want such a little guy carrying the money I was going to give her so plan B was put into action. He came home with me after school and Mama Tess and I took him to the market, purchased a lot of groceries (P500) and put it into his new back pack that was purchased in San Augustin a day before. It was my gift to him personally because he had this ratty little pink backpack that was falling apart at every seam. It was the kind that a very young child (baby) would wear. All the other boys had decent ones so I just didn’t want him to be the only one that had such a ratty backpack. After picking out the groceries and packing it in the backpack, I handed him the backpack and said Merry Christmas. This little child put his head down between his legs. He’s a shy child and this was all too much for him. I also handed him some pesos for his mom. What really gave me joy was seeing him on the back of the motorbike that I paid P20 to take him home. He lives so far away and has a long walk to and from school each day.

I’m not telling this story to get compliments. My reason for telling it is that the price I paid was so small and I know I made one little child very very happy. The look on his face as he rode away on that cycle told me how happy he was with his gifts.

Like I said before, give one little gift and you’ll have even more!

Off to Boracay tomorrow. We’re supposed to have a “typhoon” – hopefully we won’t get tossed around to much on the sea.

Won’t have my computer with me so most likely won’t write a journal until I get back so until then take care, may you have a peaceful wonderful holidays.