Whistle While You Work

This morning I visited another orphanage near Kodaikanal called Shenbaganur. Actually, it’s not quite an orphanage but a type of day care center or kresh where single parents can leave their children while they go off and seek work elsewhere.

Walking into the dark two-room building, the children are all standing, heads bowed down and hands folded together, reciting Tamil Christian prayers in perfect unison. The discipline here is unbelievable. The same goes for snack time, as once again, these little children sit in perfectly straight lines, girls on the left, boys on the right, patiently awaiting today’s delicacy.

After playing basketball, cricket, monkey bars, boat sailing in the well, coloring, and reading and writing with the kids, I decided to get my hands dirty and help some of the older girls plant their garden. After a lot of hard work and song singing, we finally got the job done and hopefully, within a few months, these children will have grown their very own beets and cauliflower, which they can then consume with pride. There’s no telling how long the dirt will remain under my fingernails. Yet, the thought of homegrown veggies and full bellies makes it all worth it.

After just one morning of playing and working with these children, I truly admire the patience, enthusiasm, and love the owners and workers (in this case Sisters) of such an organization possess and share all day everyday. I guess in the end maybe we could all use a bit more discipline after all.