One of our teens from Fort Worth Christian recently served with Allies by making bracelets for children in our programs. The experience inspired her to write the poem below and to start a bracelet club at her school, where students can continue making bracelets to donate to Allies.

Small Things That Stay

By Anna Wang

The beads are too small,
for something that is supposed to matter this much
They slip through my fingers,
Clicking against the table, bright and shiny,
Scattering like thoughts that I cannot hold.

At first, everything feels so light
Just strings, plastic, laughter,
And the embarrassment of the knot that won’t stay.

But then – Stories start to fill out the room.
Children with no parents,
The birthday that no one remembers.
The air feels heavier,
Even breathing has weight.

The bracelets change after that.
My fingers move faster now,
Looping, pulling, tightening hope into place.

Sometimes the beads spill again.
Little sounds by hitting the table,
But I gathered them back – one by one.

I organized the beads into words and phrases,
Like “joy,” “Spirit,” “Jesus loves you.”

Maybe someone will read these words one day,
When they feel lonely, hurting, or desperate.
Maybe this string will hold more than beads,
But also a reminder to tell them: you are not alone.

I used to think helping meant something big,
Be strong enough,
Smart enough,
Good enough to change everything.

But now I see it differently,
It could be small things that are around me
Because they carry something larger than my hands.

I think
That is what stays.