Job is 8yrs old, and for two years, the ground has been his shoes.
Every morning, he walks to school barefoot, feeling the heat of the road and the sharp stones that slow his steps. Other children pass him in shoes, some whispering, some laughing. Job keeps his eyes down and walks on. His guardian tries—tries to keep him in school, tries to provide—but there is never enough. No money for shoes. No money for school lunch. And so every day at 4 p.m., Job walks back home tired and hungry, his stomach aching as much as his feet.
Today is different.
When Job is handed a pair of shoes, he freezes. He touches them slowly, as if they might disappear. Then his face breaks into a smile so wide it seems to lift the weight of the past two years.
Now, he will walk to school without pain.
Now, he will not be laughed at.
Now, he belongs.
To some they are just shoes
To Job, they are divinity, hope and the promise of a better tomorrow & an unforgettable Xmas
