Often I’m overwhelmed by the needs in my family and sphere of influence. Add to that the needs in my community; couple that with the needs in the rest of the country, and all those needs feel insurmountable. Then, add on the needs of the world, and I might as well crawl in my bed, pull up the covers, and fall off the face of the earth.
The weight of these needs buries me.
With guilt.
Which is one of the reasons I quit watching the news on a regular basis. The constant barrage of disasters is more than I can handle.
But caring for my fellow man is important as well as being a command from my heavenly Father.
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
However, I’m only one person. Is it possible to make a dent in this great need I see around me?
I’m reminded of what Andy Stanley said,
Do for one what you wish you could do for everyone.
When our children were younger, we heard about a child advocacy group, Compassion International, that created sponsorships for children struggling in poverty. As Compassion’s former president and CEO, Wess Stafford, says, “The opposite of poverty isn’t wealth. The opposite of poverty is enough.”
Coming alongside a child to help them move from poverty to enough is something we could do. We did for one child what we wished we could do for everyone.
Our children helped decide on the child to sponsor. We wrote letters to our sponsored child and looked forward to that child’s letters. Our children’s world broadened because they wanted to learn more about where our sponsored child lived. What was their home like? What did they like to do? What were their favorite foods? How did they celebrate their birthday and holidays? What holidays did they celebrate?
However, the most amazing transformation came in all our lives. We learned that what we took for granted:
Clean water
Abundant food, easily obtained
Adequate shelter
Public school
were not givens in our sponsor child’s world. It’s very humbling to realize that what you don’t even think about because it is normal, is not normal for large portions of our world. We discovered that we were wealthy.
We are grateful to sponsor these children. We are humbled to partner with their parents to help them break the grip of poverty.
We continue to do for one what we wish we could do for everyone.
Stories like Margaret’s, a beautiful Massai woman, show you the power of hope. Click here to read her powerful story.
Would you consider doing for one what you wish you could do for everyone? The need is great. But if we each do what we can, we can break the cycle of poverty.
One child at a time.
It’s easy! Click the picture below to find the child you wish to sponsor. It will change your life as well as theirs.
One more thing:
Let’s stay connected
This blog, The Extra-ordinary Life of Ramblin Rose, is moving to a chrisk277.sg-host.com by the end of next week! If you are currently following me via WordPress Reader, click this button below and enter your email address. I’ll send you the link to the new blog so we can stay connected. (BTW, you also get a free ebook by clicking this link.)
Capture the extraordinary in the ordinary today,
Kirsten D. Samuel
Aftershock Recovery Coach
8-week Program, Custom-paced Coaching, Remote, or In-person Sessions
Many years ago I sponsored a child through Compassion and, you are correct, it was a humbling experience. Thanks for reminding me of this and of the need that continues throughout our world. Also, thanks for checking in with The Ruminant Scribe. I appreciate your taking the time to do so.
Thanks for stopping by, Linda.
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