“The average Ethiopian family makes about $132 a year.”
My breath caught in my throat as I read a library book about Ethiopian families to my two girls. That’s less than what I spend on groceries every week. For a family of four! This was a family of seven we were reading about. I thought I was being such a good mom, encouraging my children to read books about other countries and cultures. I wanted them to be exposed to more than just Loudoun County, where the population is 82% Caucasian. Here I am, reading a book about a family whose yearly income is half of our monthly car payment.
My head doesn’t understand this statistic. So I wonder, why me? Why was I born in America? Why have I never had to worry about clothes or shoes or food or clean water? What was your purpose, God, that I was born here? I always feel guilty after I have moments like these. My mind can’t comprehend such disparities between myself and that Ethiopian family. I get upset that I can’t do more. I get mad at people around me who don’t understand…who tell me I can’t take care of every orphaned baby in Africa. I don’t understand why they don’t feel the same burden.
So I pray. I open my Bible to look for answers. I open to the New Testament, to the Gospels, to Jesus. I see a man who had so much compassion, so much love and grace. I see a perfect example set before me. Jesus was a man of action. He just did it. He healed, He loved, He saved. He expects us to do the same. So wallowing in guilt and anger is probably right where Satan would want me to stay. I believe that our battle as Christians “. . . 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). Satan would rather see me waste energy on those things, instead of just doing what the Bible tells me to do.
God does not want to see babies orphaned by HIV and AIDS, He does not desire to see children starving and dying of malnutrition. “The thief [Satan] comes only to steal and kill and destroy. . .” (John 10:10a). Satan wants more orphaned children who are at risk for trafficking. He wants to see AIDS/HIV spread and hope die. He wants to see mothers so desperate to feed their children that they have no other choice but to sell their bodies.
Most notably, I believe Satan wants Christians, especially in America, to think it’s not their problem. To think that they don’t need to sponsor a child to ensure they are fed and get an education…to think they could NEVER afford to adopt an orphan, and that they are to busy to consider going on a missions trip or volunteering at a homeless shelter. Satan would rather us be too busy to see the injustice in this world that God sees. When he gets us to be indifferent, he wins.
Did you know that the price we pay for data on our iPhones and Blackberries (about $30/month), is the same amount of money it costs to sponsor a child? For a child living in a third world country, that $30 a month represents food and education. For us it just represents convenience.
I realize there are no quick and easy solutions to these problems our world faces. I believe Jesus is truly the only one who can come and wipe away every tear. I know that one day He will. Until then, however, I am convinced that my job as a believer is to show this radical love that Jesus showed me first to everyone around me. Even when it’s not convenient, easy, or popular.
“I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10bActions:
Some ways to sponsor and support those in need I’ve discovered are by sponsoring a child, buying a t-shirt, or supporting a family that is in the adoptiong process!
The links below will take you to some of my favorite organizations which can help you do these things and more:
http://www.amazima.org
http://www.solehope.org
http://www.hopechest.org
http://www.ordinaryhero.org
http://www.147millionorphans.com
To Hear more from Katie, check out her blog at: http://katiesprettylittlelife.blogspot.com/
Wow. The cost of a data plan versus the cost to sponsor a child…humbling, very humbling.
Thank you, Katie, for being an advocate for the lovely and overlooked and for reminding us all that we are blessed to be a unyeilding and flowing over blessing to others.