Don’t miss the smiles on the innocent faces in the photo above, and the joy in the eyes of these boys. As part of an annual ritual, Rohini and I furnish school supplies (books, pencils, book bags, etc), Diwali sweets, and sports supplies for a group of nomadic children that live with their parents on a small hilltop on the outskirts of a small town in India.
They have no electricity, and no running water. The school house is a cleared up area where they sit on the ground, weather permitting. I can’t wait to visit them on my next trip, but this is not about Rohini, or me.
This post is about the children, who have close to nothing — who still want to learn, who grow up with no toys, and find happiness in a few books, soccer balls, and jump ropes, that are now available for them to learn and play. It is ironic that those that have so little, find joy in the simple things that we take for granted.
This is a stark departure from our materialistic culture, where bigger and better is the norm. And where success is measured by the uniqueness of our “toys.” As the holiday season approaches, buy less, give more, and touch the lives of those less fortunate, in meaningful ways.
How else will we ever share our blessings?
How else will we ever make a difference?
About Hemant Rustogi