“That’s what he needed”

Sitting in my office today, long after everyone had left, working to organize the handouts for our full week of training, the sounds of the barrio kept interrupting my alone time. I kept turning up the music but the screaming, yelling and crying took over the room and I had to give it my full attention. I watched from my window for several minutes. Straight ahead five girls, previous students at T.E.A.R.S. school, were fighting as they worked to clean, wash the clothes and tidy the outside area of the tiny house. They argued like adults, faces full of the worry of adults-the childhood of poverty makes one old very fast.

I continued to scan the area for the crying. The baby must have been crying now for more than an hour. I spotted him. Laying on the floor naked with his grandmother sitting next to him a banana in one hand and a belt in the other beating the child repeatedly like it were the most natural thing in the world.

My first instinct was to scream and I did, but no one heard or cared. So I marched out of my office and started up the hillside. What was I going to say or do? I didn’t know but I couldn’t sit and watch a child be beaten. I prayed and wondered how my friend Jesus would have handled such a situation. I knew he wouldn’t come in judgment with a lecture-love was his tool of choice. So I asked myself, “How can I show love in this moment?”

As I approached the house I greeted the woman and spoke kindly to the child using the typical phrase here, “Que fue chiquito?” - “What happened little one?” — “Que tiene?” - “What’s the matter?” He cried and the grandma began to visit with me lying about the situation and why he was crying. I ignored the lie but showed her my office and told her as I watched from there I felt so sad I had to come see if I could help. I entered into relationship with her and we visited for several minutes as the child continued to weep. I asked what she thought he needed. She couldn’t say, but explained that if he didn’t stop crying she would spank him and showed him the belt. I suggested a hug and being held. She shook her head not convinced and didn’t make a move.

I went to visit the girls next door and as I was leaving I noticed the grandmother holding the child, now clothed and soaking up the love. I smiled real big and her eyes met mine. “That’s what he needed” I said. She smiled and asked with expectation if I’d be back. Am I too busy to give her the love she needs?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 8th, 2007 at 12:00 pm and is filed under Reyes Family Blog (T.E.A.R.S. for Joy), T.E.A.R.S. School. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.