Monday, August 1, 2011

Hungry

They were sitting watching a movie, eating popcorn, dropping crumbs on carpet. I was reading computer news and across the waves of the web came these images. Scenes from a land scortched in heat. Not too unlike our midwest, only longer and more intense. Images that left me speechless and mouth all dry. Before I notice, children come over to me and see the eyes of a fellow child. He's the same age as my little one; only his his body has no muscle and his diseased eyes hold no sparkle of life. My little one asks what is wrong with that little one. As a Mama, how do you explain drought, disease, malnutrition, hopelessness to wee little ones? But I try. "There is no rain," I manage. "No food will grow there. The people have to wait for others to bring them food." My heart is aching. Daughter speaks first, "They'll be ok! God won't let anything happen." I don't know what to say. I try, "Well, sometimes God wants us to help. To be his helpers." Little one runs to pantry. Grabs two cans of soup, all his hands can hold. "Send this to them Mama." My heart breaks a little more. Oh how I wish I could just send it. "Well, we really can't do that, but there is a way..." I click a few times and find this. "We can do this." I say.

Who would have thought...from my cell phone, a simple text could send food to a hungry child half way around this globe. I make the numbers appear on the screen and hit send. "The money will go from our bank to those children." I attempt not to cry. Little one runs to his room, I hear coins clang against glass. Back he runs, hand clutching coins he has worked for, made bed, put up dishes, set table for. "This is money for the poor. Send it to them." I swallow hard and take the gift. It weighs heavy in my hand. Who is this child teaching me compassion? I hug children close that night, we pray for little African children and for rain.

This has run through my mind for days now. I wake Sunday morning, a lump in my throat...are my children not all too unlike those children? Oh, mine have full bellies and are relatively healthy in body. But God prodes on. How about the spirit, Sara? Could it be that my children look spiritually like those children look physically? The throat constricts more. Do I feed them from the Word each and every day? The only bread that gives life? Do I serve them a drink from the Living Water every day? The only water that quenches all thirst so that we never thirst again. I repent. Right there in the shower with water falling down to wash away my neglect and malnutrition. The starving of my own soul and those of my little ones. I resolve...I will feed them every day. I must or they too will waste away hungry, thirsty.

Looking for Grace,

The list

God has used her book to change my life.  How giving thanks, finding joy, and discovering grace could change a life.  I read her words in a ferocious manner.  I couldn't get it fast enough...teach me this wonderful grace.  How could I learn to see?  To really see.  These grace moments every day, every hour, every minute.  God's love sitting right there in front of me.  Could He possibly have time for me?  Want to woo me to Himself?  All in an ordinary day.  Here in this ordinary house, on these wooded acres, in the middle of the midwest.  Could He?  Yes.  And He did.  And He still does.

My list began on April 25, 2011. 
#1 - 7 of the list that never ends...
chalk drawings on driveway
white tailed bird flying against rain greened grass
red wagon
daughter plunking out piano piece
rolling thunder
flashes of lightening
son sleeping on daughter's floor

The challenge to list a thousand gifts from His hand to mine, I continue today and every day, "A dare to live fully right where you are."  --Ann Voskamp

#296 - 300
baptism of little boy at church, his precious foot kicking up out of the water
baptismal water shining in the light
sleeping boy
horse licking his friend
raindrops hanging on metal gate


Watching for Grace,