A week or so ago I was driving home and was really hungry! I thought about stopping at Taco Bell, but decided I'd just go home and eat some frozen pizza (which I like better than any other kind!). I was in a slightly bad mood, though I don't remember why, and when I got home and opened the freezer to find NO pizza... I got a little upset. I remember saying something like, "Seriously? I didn't stop at Taco Bell because I was going to eat pizza", and shut the door a little harder than needed. It took about 5 seconds and then a feeling of shame came over me as I thought of all the people in the world, some FAR away and some closer than I like to think, that didn't have ANYTHING to eat for dinner, or all day for that matter. I almost started crying right there because I was so disgusted with myself.
It made me start thinking about everything else that I have and take for granted. I have a car that takes me anywhere I need to go, I have money for everything I need, I have a great job... all things that MILLIONS of people in this world somehow manage to live without.
I don't ever want to complain about something that I have been blessed with, and I'm praying that anytime that I start to, I will stop and just be thankful instead.
I've been reading "The Hole in our Gospel" by Richard Stearns. He is president of World Vision and has an awesome testimony of how God called him to step into that role. The book is full of good information, heart-breaking stories and pictures, and a call to ACT. It's great for us when our hearts break over the injustice and unfairness in the world, but it doesn't do the victims any good. There are so many ways that we can change a life. What's stopping you?
Here are two ideas for you:
I became a "mom" to a 14 yr old boy at an orphanage in Ethiopia yesterday. He can speak/write English and has a Facebook. It's a more instant form of communication, one that I don't have with my two Compassion International sponsor children, and I'm excited to start building a relationship with him.
My pastors family adopted two children from Ethiopia, and she is "mom" to two boys at the same orphanage. They actually have taken her last name for themselves, they even use it on Facebook. It's pretty awesome!
If you're interested in becoming a "mom" for one of these boys (ages 6-20), contact me and I can get you in touch with the right people. I think the only real criteria is that you are a Christian. It's not a sponsorship, it's just mentoring and loving on a child that will never have a real family.
Also, check out Compassion International. It's $38 dollars a month and guarantees that the child with receive an education, food, basic supplies and most importantly they will hear about Jesus. I sponsor two children with Compassion. One I've had for about 4 years and the other I just got in February. I'll admit that I do not write them as often as I should, but I am trying to get better with that. I've commited to writing at least once a month and sending a small gift as often as I can (stickers, coloring pages etc...). There's no better feeling than when I get a letter from India and a 15 yr old girl calls me "sister" and tells me that she and her family are so thankful for me and that they pray for me every day. It's humbling and awesome to know that my letters to her are some of her most prized possessions. It's also cool to hear her plans for the future and to know that I'm a huge part in those plans actually being possible!
Pray about it. If God asks you to do it, he'll provide the way for you to do it. What's more important? Saving and giving hope to a life, or spending money on stuff we don't really need?
And go check out their website and look through the pictures. How can you say no after that?
I am so far from where I want to and should be, but I'm thankful that I am changing and that I am being affected by the things I read and hear about.
"Let us not love with words or speech but with ACTIONS and in truth". 1 John 3:18
No comments:
Post a Comment