*Disclaimer: I am not a preacher, I'm not a spokesperson. I'm just sharing with you my daily challenge from the One who made me, in the hopes that maybe it will challenge you too.
As you can imagine, with a mischievous 2 year old and a nursing-every-1.5-hours 2 month old at home, I don't have much time to myself. The little time I do have is usually spent frantically trying to tidy my "looks like we just had a tornado" house and taking a shower.
This morning, I was up at 4:45am so that I could feed my baby and hit the gym before Julien left for work. And as I drove, I had my morning talk with God. It's usually all about me. I whine about how tired I am, about how my adorable toddler just sometimes pushes me to the brink with her shenanigans, and about how I have no time to do the things I love, like napping, reading or scrap booking in peace. But for a good reason, I was put to shame today.
I was reflecting on the Lord's prayer. I'm sure you know it, or at least have heard of it. I was thinking about the lines "Give us our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." For the first time, these words really hit me in a way I never expected them to.
I've been researching the famine in Somalia, the worst in 60 years. Every day, 200 children alone DIE from lack of food. As a mother, I rejoice when my babies are fat and happy. I get a kick out of how happy Charlotte is when I give her a chocolate chip. I can't imagine not being able to provide for my children, watch them as they get weaker and weaker,and then have them die a most horrible death in my arms because I couldn't give them the one thing they needed: Food. I can't imagine being helpless to that point, with the store just down the road chalk full of goodies. And I could see how desperately the words "God, give us our daily bread" have become for these poor suffering people half a world away.
The real catcher for me though, is that "our daily bread" is followed by "Forgive us as we forgive those who trespass against us".
It hit me that I am trespassing against these people. By selfishly grabbing a coffee at Starbucks, or indulging in chocolate bars (hence the gym at 5am) or thinking about what new toy I want for Christmas, I am not helping a human in need. I am not clothing them, feeding them or giving them drink like Jesus has commanded me to do. Because of me spending my money on unnecessary treats for myself and my family, there is a child who will die. Or who has already died. That is one of the most depressing thoughts ever.
While I know that issthis is a complex issue full of politics and corrupt governments, there ARE relief organizations on the ground in Somalia handing out precious nutrients and life saving food. And every dollar given feeds a child for a day and provides the necessary vaccines (measles is now rampant!!) to help disease remain at bay.
An estimated 1.5 billion dollars is still needed to help this starving country. We don't hear about it on the news, or it's a 15 second blurb followed by 15 minutes of hockey and baseball highlights. How can we so callously ignore the plight of so many human beings like ourselves? If it were in our country, this would be headline news for hours upon hours, on every.single.channel.
Today, I've been challenged to give up my luxuries. That chocolate bar and chai tea will not improve my quality of life. But that $6 will give 6 children full bellies for the day. It will help 6 precious lives stay alive.
Like I said, I am not a spokesperson, I'm not a preacher. But I did get a royal butt kicking this morning, and I feel the need to share this horrible, atrocious famine that's happening in our world in the hopes that maybe you'll decide to give up that cup of coffee, even if just for one day.
Websites to check out if you would like to learn more or donate:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_East_Africa_drought
www.worldvision.ca/give-a-gift/Pages/DroughtintheHornofAfrica.aspx
www.actionagainsthunger.org/blog/famine-declared-somalia-scale-scope-reach-catastrophic-levels?gclid=CM_Uw6bsu6wCFQZbhwodDUL1vQ
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