Kyle is barely a year old. Born into circumstances most of us will—thankfully—never experience. Abandoned by his parents, he is now being raised with love and care at Lewenskruispaaie, a place of refuge and hope. A victim of circumstance, Kyle’s future is uncertain. Who knows what challenges lie ahead for him?

Yet, in the midst of loss and hardship, there is love. There is compassion. The residents and caregivers of this remarkable home surround him—and so many others—with kindness that is nothing short of life-changing.

Lewenskruispaaie is more than a shelter. It is a sanctuary for those who have faced the worst that life can offer. For nearly 80 individuals—young and old—it is a place to begin again after years marked by pain, difficulty, and abandonment.

The stories within its walls are fragile and raw. Lives discarded by society for no fair reason. Their experiences are beyond what most of us can comprehend. How can we measure empathy for a life we’ve never lived? How can we grasp the weight of a story that begins with having nothing—not even someone to hold you?

Imagine, just for a moment, a life where everything you own fits into a small Checkers plastic bag. That is reality for some. And yet, within that reality, there is still grace.

You and I—we are blessed. Blessed beyond measure. We carry more than we know, and it is easy to forget the abundance we live in.

So today, I pause. I reflect. And I say:

Thank You, Lord, for my blessings.