I have so much more than I need.
In recent weeks that message has come to me over and over again in so many subtle, and some not-so-subtle, ways. I knew that there was something I was supposed to do, but I could not pinpoint what that was. The conviction that there was something was so forceful that I manically purged belongings for charity and made Lenten commitments to service. Regardless of the actions I took, it did not feel right. Until...
I stumbled upon this blog through a series of links in other blogs. I read the first entry. I cried. I closed the link. I refused to return for days.
My husband works in the international humanitarian community in disaster respose. We have seen extreme poverty and suffering. We have lived in separate countries continuously for almost a year and spent much time before that separated for months at a time. At some point, I became desensitized to the plight of many in this world. Not because I no longer cared, but because the worry and the hurt became overwhelming at times. I felt that we were giving enough. We committed our entire marriage, the comfort of being together, and the stability of being a "normal" family to the aide of others. I convinced myself that "there will always be poor people" and continued with my overindulgent life.
Days later, I returned to this blog. Not so much willingly, but more so because I felt I had no other choice. Like a spoiled child, I basically whined "I don't want to." But I did. I am glad I did.
I would like to say I decided, but that really isn't the appropriate word, it had been decided long before I threw my childish tantrum. I finally realized that I was going to sponsor a child. Ledama Kipkuro broke my heart with his precious face and his mischievous eyes. This is what I had been directed to do with the message I had received. This is why I had it placed on my heart that I have so much more than I need.
Compassion International is a vehicle for sponsoring children all over this world. You can skip one meal out per month and give a child hope for the future. Consider it...consider how much you have and how little it takes to change a life.
