My children ate rice for lunch today. I worried it wouldn't be enough so I also gave them some fruit and peanut butter.
Then for supper, I gave them rice. And shredded chicken. And a hard boiled egg. AND spinach.
As I was pouring my organic salad dressing on my organic spinach sprinkled with organic sunflower seeds...
I was thinking about all the moms that don't have the option of giving their children more than just rice....or even rice at all.
You see, while there is nothing wrong with balanced meals and organic foods, I have seen the other side of things. And I cannot un-see it.
I have seen children on the brink of starvation.
I have seen children eat rice once a day and be thankful.
I used to think it was so far from me. I used to think I couldn't do anything. I was just me, a mom, living in the midwest, in a small town. I am not rich. I am not living in excess. I am just simply me and I believed the lie that I could do nothing, all the while children were scrounging through garbage on the streets just to eat.
I didn't know these children. To me, they didn't even really exist. Because I didn't know HOW to do anything about it. They didn't have names or faces.
Until one day....they did.
Let me tell you I used to believe that I couldn't make a difference. I would pray for them, but it was too big and too much and my measly attempt at helping them....I mean really, what good would it do?
Adoption has always been on my heart. But adoption isn't the only way to make a difference.
I have seen children, literally starving. Unable to muster the strength to stand alone. Too weak from starvation and disease to even care. At times too weak to chew the food on the plate in front of him.
I have seen children hold onto the bits of dried fruit, even when it wasn't to her liking. I've seen her hold this food tightly until her knuckles I'm sure hurt, but she held it until the next food came along...just in case.
I have seen children gain strength and courage. I've seen children learn to trust again. I have seen them smile.
I have seen them with full bellies.
I have seen them healthy again.
Re-newed.
Re-stored.
Given the freedom to be children again.
It's not perfect, but it's something. There are children that still live on the streets. There is still starvation and disease.
And let me tell you, bad things still happen.
But I am proud to say, along with our adoption agency, I have seen children brought to a place of hope again.
I cannot be with my adopted children, but I am thankful I have found the organization that feeds their tummies and feeds their hearts.
I experienced the love of the foster family that my children are with.
But friends, here's the thing. While things are sadly taking longer than we expected, our children and other children are not going hungry. We are paying for the foster care for our children, but what about these other children, who have been found, brought in from the streets? What about the other children that don't yet have families?
I have seen our agency take in child after child....feeding them, paying for their medical expenses, clothing them.... only trusting that God will meet their financial needs.
God honors these commitments. And I'm not saying this is THE place for you, but please friends, pick your place. Love generously.
Because these children are real. Their names are Crusoe and Isa.... and so many more.
I do not regret any dollar I've ever spent, any sweet tea I've forgone...to see them go from this:
to this:
And to know that the love of Jesus has been placed in their lives.
Pick your place, you will be blessed by blessing them.
If you'd like to know more about our awesome agency, All Blessings, Int. and their Congo program click here.
Tonight as Liam went on and on about growing up to be Spiderman and telling me he wanted to live with me forever...and how he never wants to get married (we'll see about that) and as he picked up a dandelion to blow (sorry neighbors), I got a glimpse of the innocence that a child is supposed to possess. Where his worries are only that of building a race track and holding my hand as we cross the street, I ache for my other children and all the children that don't get to just worry about that stuff. They have to worry about where they will find food, or if they even will.
Instead of believing the lie that you cannot make a difference in the life of a child. Instead of thinking that Africa is too far off, that these children do not exist. Join me, pray for these children. I will give you names. Message me. You can love generously with me.
You can donate here. You can help change the life of a child in Congo. You can give them rice....and so much more!
Then for supper, I gave them rice. And shredded chicken. And a hard boiled egg. AND spinach.
As I was pouring my organic salad dressing on my organic spinach sprinkled with organic sunflower seeds...
I was thinking about all the moms that don't have the option of giving their children more than just rice....or even rice at all.
You see, while there is nothing wrong with balanced meals and organic foods, I have seen the other side of things. And I cannot un-see it.
I have seen children on the brink of starvation.
I have seen children eat rice once a day and be thankful.
I used to think it was so far from me. I used to think I couldn't do anything. I was just me, a mom, living in the midwest, in a small town. I am not rich. I am not living in excess. I am just simply me and I believed the lie that I could do nothing, all the while children were scrounging through garbage on the streets just to eat.
I didn't know these children. To me, they didn't even really exist. Because I didn't know HOW to do anything about it. They didn't have names or faces.
Until one day....they did.
Let me tell you I used to believe that I couldn't make a difference. I would pray for them, but it was too big and too much and my measly attempt at helping them....I mean really, what good would it do?
Adoption has always been on my heart. But adoption isn't the only way to make a difference.
I have seen children, literally starving. Unable to muster the strength to stand alone. Too weak from starvation and disease to even care. At times too weak to chew the food on the plate in front of him.
I have seen children hold onto the bits of dried fruit, even when it wasn't to her liking. I've seen her hold this food tightly until her knuckles I'm sure hurt, but she held it until the next food came along...just in case.
I have seen children gain strength and courage. I've seen children learn to trust again. I have seen them smile.
I have seen them with full bellies.
I have seen them healthy again.
Re-newed.
Re-stored.
Given the freedom to be children again.
It's not perfect, but it's something. There are children that still live on the streets. There is still starvation and disease.
And let me tell you, bad things still happen.
But I am proud to say, along with our adoption agency, I have seen children brought to a place of hope again.
I cannot be with my adopted children, but I am thankful I have found the organization that feeds their tummies and feeds their hearts.
I experienced the love of the foster family that my children are with.
But friends, here's the thing. While things are sadly taking longer than we expected, our children and other children are not going hungry. We are paying for the foster care for our children, but what about these other children, who have been found, brought in from the streets? What about the other children that don't yet have families?
I have seen our agency take in child after child....feeding them, paying for their medical expenses, clothing them.... only trusting that God will meet their financial needs.
God honors these commitments. And I'm not saying this is THE place for you, but please friends, pick your place. Love generously.
Because these children are real. Their names are Crusoe and Isa.... and so many more.
I do not regret any dollar I've ever spent, any sweet tea I've forgone...to see them go from this:
to this:
 |
| (Do you see those arms!?) |
And to know that the love of Jesus has been placed in their lives.
Pick your place, you will be blessed by blessing them.
If you'd like to know more about our awesome agency, All Blessings, Int. and their Congo program click here.
Tonight as Liam went on and on about growing up to be Spiderman and telling me he wanted to live with me forever...and how he never wants to get married (we'll see about that) and as he picked up a dandelion to blow (sorry neighbors), I got a glimpse of the innocence that a child is supposed to possess. Where his worries are only that of building a race track and holding my hand as we cross the street, I ache for my other children and all the children that don't get to just worry about that stuff. They have to worry about where they will find food, or if they even will. Instead of believing the lie that you cannot make a difference in the life of a child. Instead of thinking that Africa is too far off, that these children do not exist. Join me, pray for these children. I will give you names. Message me. You can love generously with me.
You can donate here. You can help change the life of a child in Congo. You can give them rice....and so much more!