This post is directed to Christians everywhere, but even if you not a Christian and you are reading this, I hope you are moved to action anyway.
Today I experienced one of those moments of extreme emotion, sadness, desperation, that it leaves you sobbing so hard you can't breathe, and you feel like if the sobs press any harder everything inside you will be forced out your mouth and you will DIE of your sorrow. My sorrow was poured out before the Lord for the families, the CHILDREN I know are out there starving to death, even as you read this.
Today was the day at our church where the men and women that go to visit our orphanages and other places we serve in Africa share their experiences after returning home to the US. These Sundays are always a yay-boo for me. I was fourteen years old when the desire to go into foreign missions and serve in orphanages struck, and ever since then I can never get enough of foreign mission testimonies. I am always RIVETED, awe-struck, and still somehow sickened with guilt and desperation.
I am nothing. I'm not worth anything to anybody, not a doctor or a dentist, not a philosopher or an evangelist. I have no expertise in anything useful like an electrician that can give power and water to a village that hasn't had water in over two years because their breaker box for their solar well burnt-out and we couldn't get a new one in. I'm not wealthy enough for my money to make much of a difference, no matter how much I give (and I do). Us trying to help the starving, sick and orphaned in Africa is like trying to put out a wildfire with an eye-dropper. Absolutely impossible. But SOME is better than NONE. And I have SOMETHING. I have breasts that give milk. I know how to grow food, and how to tell others how to do it. I know how to keep a goat or chickens, and how to kill and dress them so they will nourish a body instead of poison it... And greatest of all I have LOVE. I have so much love and nurturing to give to children that are desperate to receive it. But still I sit here in my home, with my wonderful husband, and beautiful children, absolutely impotent. It breaks my heart. I hear about the mothers of the village whose well we fixed ullulating in overwhelming happiness (words that don't even remotely describe their elation) at finally having water again and all I can do is cry. WATER. Something we Americans call a basic necessity is an unknown luxury for just about everybody there. I am so desperate to give the NOTHING'S that I have, and I can't. I think so often about it... Think, "would I leave my children here? How could I take them? Who could I even trust to raise them how WE want them to be raised? I would rather die without them then see them go hungry, but would they understand? How can any parent choose someone else's children over their own, even if the children in question are starving and you know your own would be well cared for? Because I know as a child, I would have resented it, not understood it." These are the thoughts that are ever swirling in my mind. And then there's the amazement that the Lord saw fit to give me to parents that love me, in a country where it is beyond EASY to get food, and water, and electricity. And how, in my adoration of my Savior and the precious gift He's given can I NOT consider it?
While there are 94 verses in the Old Testament that reference how we are to care for the poor, widows and orphans, the ones I will post here are from the New Testament, words from the mouth of Jesus Christ, and men that knew him.
Matthew 25:34-40
Then the King will say to those on His right hand,"Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me."
Then the righteous will answer Him and say,"Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give YOU drink? When did we see You a stranger and take YOU in, or naked and clothe YOU? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison and come to You?"
And the King will answer and say to them,"Assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brotheren, you did it to me."
And James 1:27
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted by the world.
I want so desperately to please my Lord! To be obedient to Him and do as He commands! To be found a good and faithful servant. And I want so much for the Church to be as He desired, to do His will on Earth as it is in heaven and care for widows and orphans in their affliction!
Church, we are FAILING. We are allowing the STATE to usurp us and care for those WE should be caring for! Would that the State be put out of a job by us followers of Christ because each and every one of us chooses obedience and serves those in need! Please church, take up this cross again and serve! There are many things we can do! Whether it be giving of our financial blessings, or taking in foster children because we have the room for them, or knitting hats to send to the poor, or collecting clothing to give. There are many SOMETHING'S, if we would only take a moment to DO them. We may be trying to put out a wildfire with an eyedropper, but SOME IS BETTER THAN NONE!
Give give give! Serve serve serve! And most of all, PRAY! Pray unceasingly for those that ARE able when we are not. For those that God HAS chosen to go when we are to stay.
And finally, I leave you with a POWERFUL hymn that I love,
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5593AppZNY
Let your heart be broken for a world in need.
Feed the mouths that hunger, sooth the wounds that bleed.
Give the cup of water, and the loaf of bread.
Be the hands of Jesus, serving in His stead.
