My sister made me cry last week.
Puddles full of tears.
But, . . they were tears full of thankfulness and gratitude.
Tears of astonishment and amazement.
First, let's specify which sister caused the emotional outpouring. I'm one of five (four of us being girls) and have been adopted into a huge family of sisters through The World Race (who are becoming more like family everyday) so I should probably use specifics.
Brittany, my darling older sister (but not oldEST),
was the cause for the tears.
Granted, I was an emotional wreck over Thanksgiving holiday for various reasons so it's not ENTIRELY her fault.
Ok, ok, this time it actually was (haha, sorry sis) . . .
See, her birthday was 11/24 (yes, that's Thanksgiving day as well) and the evening of our arrival (prior to our plane landing) she celebrated her birthday with a friend. They were going to go see Wicked on Broadway. Which, by the way, is something she has ALWAYS wanted to do.
Finally, she was being given the opportunity to see something
that she has held so dear for so long but . . .
she declined.
Instead,
she asked her friend to donate the money that would be spent on tickets to my fundraising account.
Wait . . .
It was HER birthday. HER present. And she, instead, wanted it to go to me.
Cue the tears.
I know how much she's been wanting to see that show. How much her heart was set on it. But she selflessly gave it up to help send me to the nations.
Not to mention everything else (time, creativity, etc) she has put into my fundraising efforts.
I really didn't deserve that.
She just looked at me and said (verbatum.. kind of,.. lol):
"I just figured that if you could give up all of your stuff, I could give up this. Would not seeing Wicked change the course of my life? Would it really be a life altering event? No, probably not. Would you not following your calling and sharing Him with the forgotten change the course of both yours and their lives? Would not going be a life altering event? Yes. If you can give up your life, your dreams, for Him and this calling, then I can give up a Broadway show . . for you, yes, but ultimately for the people out there that need you."
Cue more tears.
How true is that?
Not going to see a broadway show right now,
in this season, isn't going to be a life shattering event.
Is it a sacrifice for my sister? Yes.
Is it something I would ever ask her to give up? No.
But is the sacrifice something that will be honored by God?
By those she will be reaching, even from so far?
Yes.
I would never ask her to walk away from that dream . .
but she recognized that…
Not being able to follow His calling and reach those who
He has divinely set aside for me to reach, would be a life altering event.
It would directly change the course of my life, yes . .
but more importantly …
It would change the course of those that are hurting, lost, hopeless. It would prevent them from escaping child trafficking, homelessness, abandonment.
Does having to eat a pb&j sandwhich everyday for lunch so you can donate your lunch money for a month or not buying the newest Iphone so you can donate, going to dramatically change the course of your life? Probably not.
Will not purchasing a million Christmas presents and making sentimental ones instead, or buying generic cereal instead of the 'fancy' kind to save on the grocery bill and having the extra cash flow to allow for you to donate going to be a life altering event?
Doubtful.
In fact, they will probably change your life for the better.
Will ignoring the slight nudge in your spirit or the calling of God telling you to donate going to affect you in a negative way?
Perhaps.
Is it going to affect those around the world whom the Lord has called me to?
Definitely.
I ask that you pray about making a sacrifice in your life; a sacrifice in your spending habits.
Pray about becoming a monthly donor.
Even if you just save a dollar a day to become a $30 donor over the course of the next 7 months, you'll be making a difference in lives around the world.
This isn't for me. This is for them.
For those that want to give up. For those that are hopeless, helpless, lost.
For those that have NEVER heard the Gospel.
For the dying and hurting world.
Think about them.
Think about the selflessness of my sister,
the selflessness of her friend who donated the money that would have went to the tickets (plus some).
And about the tears of joy that will fall
when you join in the Kingdom of God to help further
His grace, His forgiveness, His love.
<3tasha
