If you’ve ever been on a mission trip or seen the poverty of a third-world country firsthand, you probably returned to your warm bed, many clothing options, and education or job with a new sense of gratefulness. On my last trip to Guatemala, this past February, my team and I got to walk inside the homes of many schoolchildren and hear their stories in a town called Chimaltenango. Most of them were only able to attend school because of a sponsor back in the US. Each and every story broke my heart. These kids have have seen and been through more in their lifetime than we could ever fathom. Sure, our lives aren’t perfect- we have needs, we have problems and storms. But these people, they rely on God to put food on their table the next day. They rely on God just to survive. While we have more than an abundance stacked up in our pantries, and we don’t think twice about it. I know God has been breaking my heart for this because it breaks his too.
I’m reading a book called Kisses from Katie, which is about a missionary in Uganda (highly recommend btw!!) Something I read a few days ago smacked me in the face. I haven’t been able to get it off my mind. I know that’s because God wants it there.
“The truth is that the 143 million orphaned children and the 11 million who starve to death or die from preventable diseases and the 8.5 million who work as child slaves, prostitutes, or under other horrific conditions and the 2.3 million who live with HIV add up to be 164.8 million needy children. And though at first glance that looks like a big number, 2.1 billion people on this earth proclaim to be Christians.
The truth is that if only 8 percent of the Christians would care for one more child, there would be no more statistics.”
We are responsible. When Jesus tells us to love our neighbor, don’t forget that you have neighbors half way around the world. James 1:27 says, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” When Jesus said “Love your neighbor,” it wasn’t meant to be taken as a suggestion. It should be our duty, a priority. It applies to us especially, because “to everyone who has been given much, much will be required (Luke 12:48).” And friends, we have been given SO much. We are beyond blessed. We have so much opportunity, so much freedom and more than enough “stuff.”
I had a yard sale yesterday morning to try and raise some money for my trip. Me and my ~very helpful and wonderful~ mother set up our stuff in her friend’s driveway. In the midst of all the “junk” that we and our friend were trying to get rid of, our friend made a remark: “I have too much STUFF. I’m so tired of all of this STUFF just laying around.” It hit me once more of how we have more than an abundance of literally everything.
It caused a selfish feeling to sneak up on me, but I just let it happen. Because realizing your selfishness is the first step to realizing your gratefulness. There have been times, especially when I get back from a mission trip, that I would sit down to a nice dinner and be holding back tears. Like, wow, I get to sit down to dinner with my loving family in my cozy home and eat. Why have I taken that for granted my whole life. That is a huge blessing.
I encourage you to open your eyes today. Give thanks to God for everything. And then put your gratefulness into action. Love your neighbors and spread your blessings. God loves a cheerful giver.
All we can say to the Lord at the end of the day is Thank you and I’m sorry.
Much love,
Abigail
