The Art of Giving and Receiving

By Sam R. Volunteer in Senegal

A few weeks ago, I had just finished buying vegetables from a friend of mine at the market. I think I had shared with him some joke I had heard the day before. As I turned to leave, there was a small boy in my path. He had ashy skin and was wearing an oversized yellow t-shirt. He was probably seven years old. Holding in one arm an old can of tomato paste with a few coins inside, the other was extended toward me palm face-up. There is something about a child’s eyes that speak louder when his face is marred with dirt. I am sure that he had just seen me place the change the vendor had given me into my left pocket. However, in our community, we do not usually give these children money, instead, we usually ask their names or invite them to play with us. 
In somewhat of a lighthearted manner, I smiled and extended my own right hand as well, hoping to give the young boy a handshake and maybe start a conversation. He looked at my hand for a moment, seemingly trying to make up his mind about whether or not to shake it. However, instead of placing his hand in mine, he reached into his own pocket and handed me a coin roughly worth a dime. I was stunned. I returned the coin to him and shot him a small smile. He smiled back at me, turned, and left. Not a single word was spoken. 
 
I do not want to provide much of a reflection, because I think the story stands on its own. However, I do think that for a child who begs all day long, I am sure that he understands the act of giving differently than I do. I also imagine he understands the act of receiving differently. 
This has led me to reflect deeply about the giving and receiving. The young boy offered to me what he was working to collect. Such an act in any context seems entirely unproductive. However, if there was any charity in his action, I do not think it is unproductive at all. 
St. Francis of Assisi famously includes in his prayer how it is in giving that we receive. I am led to believe such is the case with love. I am finding my own ability to love is heightened here, and consequently, my understanding of how much I am loved grows as well. I notice how greatly I desire the good for the children of our neighborhood. I notice how I found myself genuinely worried when two members of the community did not return home until very late one night after having forgotten to take with them a phone, finally understanding why my mother used to wait for me to come home. Or how much more my heart hurts for some of our closest friends who are so far from the Eucharist. It is through these changes in myself that I understand how much greater His love is for me, for surely the God of Heaven and Earth who is Love Himself is more capable of love than I.