Hmmmm....Life is so bazar. I have been thinking a lot about a quote from Joyce Meyers that Kim used to have up on the fridge. It said," you can be pitiful or you can be powerful but you can't be both." I keep trying to be both. The scared girl inside me wants to be pitiful and have Mark, friends, family, God...anyone really... save the day so I can feel rescued, pursued, and loved. But the Mom in me wants to be powerful so I can protect my children, so they feel safe and loved. I want to be a strong example to them and others. And I have a deep desire to help others.
God has been drawing my attention again and again to the little boy I support through Compassion International. We have supported him for 4 years now. His name is Samuel and he has several siblings. He is 9 and is in 3rd grade. His father has died and his mother works as an assistant Mason. He lives in Dire Dawa in Ethiopia. Most adults there earn only $10 a month! Where he lives 50% of people are Muslim and about 40% are dif. variations of Christian. 50% of men can read and only 35% if women. Most families live in houses with dirt floors and tin roofs. Only 11% of the rural population has decent drinking water. 23% of the population lives below $1 a day. 5 years agon 1 and a half million people there were infected with Aids.
Lately when things are hard I can not help but think of Samuels mother. I wonder how challenging life is for her. Mark and I are having a hard time with money for sure but when I see how little she makes and how if I try to be more disiplined the little I have could honestly change her familys life. I think how could I not do that!? How can I not help Samuels mother? If that were me I would want someone to say," I see you. I care about your hardships. I care about your children! I want to help you." I have been writing Samuel and I tell him to let his Mother know I pray for her. And the past 2 months I have been able to send their family additional support outside of my sponsorship. With the additional support (as little as $10 extra) it can make a huge difference. I hope it dosen't sound like I'm saying this to pat myself on the back because I don't mean that. The thing of it is...this is what makes me feel powerful. It gives me some encouragement to be a better Mom to the kids I have. It brings me joy and that makes me stronger.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
What a great post Steph!
I'm so proud of you for keeping in touch with your Compassion child; that is something that we're really bad at.
One of my friends here in Michigan works for Compassion International, and he sees first hand how our contributions help and change the world for one person and family. His stories are really amazing...life changing amazing.
Keep on being powerful. You are an encouragement!
Lots of love to you today.
More POWER to you!
Hi Stephy, great post! Your sponsorship of Samuel was one of the main things that motivated me to sponsor Leiketseng and I'm so glad I did. It not only puts a face to the poverty that so many people live in, but it gives me hope that maybe we can all make a difference for the next generation!
I'm glad to hear that you're trying to be better, to be a more strong person. When people stop trying, that is when everything goes to crap.
And when you see Jesus his eyes will tell you, "I was Samuel"
Maybe someday you should go back to school to be a nurse too. When your kids are older and in school themselves and they don't need you as much. I'm glad you give me about a month inbetween posts, sometimes I need extra time to read them.
I'm just seeing this for the first time today. What a truly beautiful post Steph. I echo what your dad said.
You inspire me.
Post a Comment