Wednesday, December 5, 2012

remember those who have nothing to eat

            We eat lunch at school every day at the same time—11a.m., right after math class. 
The rotating menu is also the same every week:  maize meal and fried cabbage Monday, beans and bread Tuesday, maize meal, fried cabbage and an egg Wednesday, samp and beans Thursday, and maize meal and milk Friday.  The students bring their own plastic lunch boxes from home, and they take turns lining up by class, youngest to oldest, to be served their food. 
Before dismissing the students for lunch, they all stand at their desks, fold their arms, close their eyes, and pray.  The prayer is the same every week.
“Oh Lord, thank you for the food that we are going to eat.  Remember those who have nothing to eat.  Amen.”
My breath catches in my throat every time they say it.  Some of these kids come to school just for the free food that the Ministry of Education provides.  They are the ones who have nothing to eat.  They live all day, every day on that one free meal they get at school. 
But they still remember to pray for those who have even less.

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