Last Sunday after church my daughters and I saw a table for World Vision. There were thousands of cards with pictures of children needing help. Normally I am a bit skeptical of things like this, I guess a lot of us have been poisoned by the television campaigns of the 80's and some of the reports of fraud and embezzlement, though one of our pastors had just returned from a Trip to Haiti where he met the child he and his family had been sponsoring. During his story and sermon I was moved, children have always been on my heart, so I talked to my daughters about helping other children.
My daughters are 4 and 6, sometimes their perspective is refreshing. We have previously talked about helping homeless people and giving some of our toys or clothes to those who don't have an so the concept of helping others was not new. I believe that they need to understand what sponsoring a child would mean, how it would help the child and that it might be a sacrifice on our end as well - once we agree to help that we are committed. I told them that we could help them buy food, clothes, medicine, etc, though I slipped and mentioned that often times the families did not have a car and would have to walk. That was the most shocking thing to my youngest daughter, she immediately focused on not having a car. "You mean they walk EVERYWHERE daddy?" I told her that yes, most likely they would. Her next answer reveals the true heart and mind of a child, "We could give them a car. They need a car daddy." It was settled, we would sponsor a child.
As we approached the table they were looking at all the pictures and cards. Their eyes widened as they saw children that looked like them, their age, etc. They both chose a card, one each. I told them that if we each sponsored one child that it might mean they would have to make a sacrifice. The blank look told me that I lost them. So I explained, I told them that it might mean that they can not get a new nintendo game or a toy sometime, that if we had to choose between going out to eat, buying a toy, or giving the money to help, we would always have to choose to help. My oldest daughter looked a bit concerned and said, "You mean that we might not get a buy a new book as much but we could still get some books, just not as much." I agreed. They both said, "OK." It was so fast and confident. They understood that it might mean they do without something but they would be ok.
I started to have this warm feeling in my heart, happy that my daughters felt compassion for someone they had never met and were willing to give up something to help others. As we approached the counter and I began talking to the lady my daughters began to tug on my shirt. I excused myself and asked what was so important - they each had another card with a child's picture on it. I asked what the other cards were for and they replied as only a child could, "You nee one too daddy." Wow, I mean in the big picture I was paying for them to sponsor a child, but in reality I had failed to consider my own sacrifice. I had asked them about giving up a potential toy or book, but I had not sacrificed anything. The end result is that each of my daughters will sponsor a child and I have two as well (they could not decide whose I should pick and they were passionate about both of them, maybe God was telling them something so who am I to refuse).
I am not telling this to say "look at me and how great I am," if anything I left there humbled. It took my children to remind me that I could do more and I should. Why can't we see things as a child anymore? I went on the website and saw all the gifts they offer for a person to buy for a family, to help radically change their life... it is truly humbling. We complain about traffic, about lines at Starbucks, having to eat at home more than eating out because of the economy, we complain about gas prices, the heat, the rain, the cold,... we love to complain. If we cut out one soda, one cup of Starbucks, or a candy bar each day we could impact the life of a child... $30 to $35 a month... I am not suggesting we ignore our own people who are hurting, but we should already be doing that! We are called to take care of those who need it, to show compassion, help the poor and needy, to love our neighbor... who is our neighbor?
I encourage you to look at the website and if you are moved please help them change the life of a child, if you can't do it yourself maybe a group can pitch in and sponsor one or more... The only way to change anything is to do something.
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