Marie's Poem

WHY AM I DOING THIS?

I know that I will never know if my gifts reach the children for whom I intend them.
I know that I will never know if what I send a child will be stolen from him by strangers, or worse, taken from him at home and sold for whatever pittance it brings.
I know that the children to whom I feel so connected do not know I exist.
I know that I will never receive a smile or a thank you.
I know that I will never see any result from what I do.
Why am I doing this?

See the light in these girls' eyes. It may be dimmed by poverty and hunger and hardship but it is not yet extinguished.
If my small efforts help to keep but one child's light burning then what I do is worth the time and cost and effort a million times over.
I know I will never know if I have succeeded. I can only believe it.

---- Marie, an ODS Supporter