Grizzly Groundswell

Mom,

A funny thing happened with the timing of your email. 

I happened to be online looking at camcorders, which [my husband] was going to buy me for my birthday.  He was actually leaving in a few minutes to go pick it up. I wasn’t going to check my email again, because I had checked it when I got home, but I happened to hit the “send and receive” for some reason.  That’s when I got your email and went online to the link you put in it.  (I’ll be honest, I don’t actually read every link you send me, especially ones that make me look at myself in the mirror and contemplate what’s really important.) 

As I was watching the video on the link you sent, I looked up from the suffering little girl on the screen and I noticed [my daughter and her friend] watching Hannah Montana on the TV.  I was immediately reminded of how blessed I am, to not only live in luxury and in a country where I have opportunity, but also that I am watching my little girl grow up.

For what I was going to pay for a camcorder, I found out the same amount could go to help these kids who are suffering so much.  I checked to make sure that World Vision will provide abstinence education to the children who are suffering because of the AIDS epidemic, because I believe that this is the single biggest way to fight it.  They do.  So, I’ve decided that this year for my birthday, I’m going to put my money where my mouth is and help with something that I call on everyone else to help with, but never do, myself. 

Thank you for sending this, Mom.  God called you to send it at the precise moment that you did.  You just gave me the best birthday present I could get, and you didn’t even know it.

I Love You.

I didn’t post this to brag, in fact, this post is a confession.  I’m a very bad giver.  I don’t give much to church, and I don’t give to any other charitable organizations, except the Salvation Army at Christmas, when I happen to have some change or small bills in my pocket while I’m walking into Walmart, and when I dump off my extra clothes at the Goodwill.   I’m posting this because I think that we - as Americans - tend to lose sight of how blessed we truly are. 

People like me tend to lecture others about things, yet we don’t actually practice what we preach, at times.  I’ve written at length in many blog posts about how there are so many other causes that are more important than Global Warming, and that we should give to causes that truly help people who are suffering on this earth, at this present moment.  I often bring up the people in Africa, and how we can help them directly, yet I guess I’d never stopped to think that “we” is “me”. 

Please consider giving to World Vision to help care for children in Africa who have been left to suffer - as orphans - from the AIDS epidemic. Give to help World Vision provide abstinence education to these children, and to stop the AIDS epidemic where it starts.  World Vision is one of the most respected and revered charities in the world, and you can be sure that your money will go to where it is needed most.

If you can’t give monetarily, please consider joining the “Hope Prayer Chain”, and offer your prayers.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” -Ephesians 6:12

Trackback URI | Comments RSS