This post has been later than I’d like getting out because I couldn’t settle on just one thing to write about. This is something that I’ve been thinking about for a long time and just haven’t been able to put into the right words.
The big theme for me in the last week has been gratitude. I know this is usually the type of thing that you would expect to see around Thanksgiving, but I feel like it’s particularly pertinent now. At the end of my first month of fundraising, I’ve raised a little over 5% of the total amount I need to raise. While this is about $700 short of the goal that I had set for myself to raise, it’s still way more money than I expected to have this early on.
I’ve been thinking this week about the things that I’m grateful for this month. My mom, grandma and BSF leader are three of the biggest things. Without these three wonderful ladies, I would have given up in despair right away. While they have all donated money, what I have found the most value in is their friendship, support and prayers. I can honestly say that I wouldn’t have made it this far without them.
As I gather up addresses and get ready to send out support letters, I am consistently overwhelmed with the willingness of old friends and new to help.
One of my favorite comedians, John Mulaney, notes in his stand up routine that it is 100% easier to not do something than to do it and that anyone would do anything is totally remarkable. I’m in complete agreement with him. Especially when everyone is constantly being asked to donate money and time to different charities and organizations. After awhile, it becomes second nature to just tune things out.
I almost titled this post I’d Like to Thank All the Little People, after the famous line of some award acceptance speech. I didn’t for several reasons. The first being that in Christ’s kingdom, there’s no such thing as a small person, we are all equal co heirs. The second because it’s not a little thing to donate money or time in prayer. It’s a major thing, and the generosity and the cheerfulness of the givers this past month has been massively humbling.
It’s easy to get caught up in the romantic idea of going away for a year or five years. Of wandering the world, bringing hope to the nations without regard for money or safety. The truth is, that a trip this size takes a massive team of people, all of whom go to their jobs every day and pay their bills and live their lives in their own countries, taking Christ to their own communities and giving to support just one person going out. And for all of that, I am thankful.
