A Worn-out Coat

 

I live in Kenya. Every day, I walk miles and miles along a dusty road to my little school, grasping my bucket tightly so I can get water for my mother on the way back. She cooks our food and washes our clothes with my water. We also drink from it. It is dirty yellow-brown from all the mud.

I've worn the same torn and tattered coat ever since my big brother grew too big for it. My mother gave it to me and I've played in it until it's become the same color as the dirt that I walk on. But I am thankful for what I have and I will keep on wearing it until it is just a patched-up rag.

Sometimes I wish we had more clothes, clean water and three meals every day. But, like many of my friends, we are poverty-stricken and don't have the money for everything we need. And that is why I still wear my worn-out coat.

(This is a post for Compassion Blog Month. Please join in the fight against poverty.)

Three Things About One Word: Trust

Trust is a special thing. It can take years to earn it, but only seconds to lose it. 

Trust is a mix. It has hope, security, and acceptance in it. It is served with caution because one never knows what the other person may do with this trust. It can be thrown carelessly away or cherished forever.

Trust is fragile. It shatters in pieces, fades, and chips easily. But it's a gift. A special gift that isn't set aside to gather cobwebs, but is put in a visible place and is displayed day after day after day. It's never grown tired of and constantly grows brighter as it grows old.

(This is a post for Compassion Blog Month. Please join in the fight against poverty.)

Do Christians Laugh?

OK, just saying...I laughed when I wrote that title. So, yes, Christians do laugh.

I'm bursting into laughter as I write this. Who came up with the idea that Christians don't laugh? :)

Or that they don't laugh enough...

My family and I spent Sunday with some friends and since we go to the same Church, I hitched a ride with my friend in their van. We chit-chatted for a while about some downright silly topics (like how tempted we were to eat the no-bake cookies we had on our laps...But those were for Church).

We had some good laughs.

 But this morning, I was writing in my Mom and Me journal (I write a short letter in a journal, pass it on to my Mom, and she writes back)...and I asked some questions I've been wondering on for a while. It had to do with something I thought was really funny, but wasn't positive if it was genuinely good for me.

So, she wrote back and I got answers to my questions...but I didn't like what I got. I ended up getting frustrated with myself, so we had a little talk. Just us two.

Although I still didn't get the answers I wanted, I understand what my Mom had to say. She tells me things like: "What you're laughing at shouldn't hurt people, shouldn't be offensive, and should reflect God in a good way."

And what I was thought was funny didn't make a good impression on my Mom.

So now I'm contemplating what's good-for-me funny and what's not.

Rabbit

Ladybug

Morning Glory

Remembering 9/11

FOR THE HEROES WHO RISKED AND LOST THEIR LIVES ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

AMERICA IS DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SELFLESS SACRIFICE

My Sister's Little Toy (2)

Still My Childhood Self

I'm a two-year-old. Or maybe I'm three. Anyway, Mama is grasping my hand so I won't get lost in the crowd of busy shoppers. I'm terribly nervous. Too many strangers.

A woman remarks how cute I am with my short ponytail and chubby face and smiles at me. I frown back. I don't want anyone talking to me.

I'm a shy toddler and I despise strangers. But I have a wonderful trick. It's called a frown. I perform this trick and everyone leaves me alone. It doesn't always work, but most of the time it does. And that is the power of a frown.

But why can't I be friendly? Why is it so hard for me?

Fast-Forward.

OK, now I'm a seven-year-old. My whole family is at a banquet. It's loud and I'm quiet. It seems like everyone has their own friends and I don't. Oh, two girls walk past me. They're chatting and laughing. Maybe they'll let me join in.

I follow from a safe distance. I pass some adults and older kids and continue my walking. Oops, I got too close. One of the girls turns around and looks at me for a moment. I'm so embarrassed! Should I move on and act like I wasn't doing anything? The girl says, "Do you want to play with us?" I slowly nod my head. I don't smile, but I don't frown either.

Hey, I made a new friend.

Years pass. I'm still shy. I can still count the number of friends I've made on one hand. And if I could go back and tell my two-year-old self one thing, I'd say, "Don't be shy. Go out on a limb and make some friends."

And over a decade later, I'm following my own advice.

(Note: This post is for the first Compassion Blog Month Assignment. Please join in the fight against poverty.)

Saturday's Selections

My Sister's Little Toy

Hair Bands

Blessings In Disguise

     You've probably noticed the Compassion Banners I put on this blog that say "Sponsor A Child."
Those banners make me smile because I feel that I'm showing my thankfulness for Compassion International. I never would have had the wonderful experience of getting to know Priscyla, my wonderful, loving girl from Peru. I want others to have that experience.

Last year, 3,159 children were sponsored because of Blog Month. Currently, over 1 million children have been sponsored. That's a whole lot of kids!
So, why not make that number bigger? Find more sponsors for more impoverished boys and girls?
We need to love the least of our brothers and sisters and do more for Jesus.

If one person sponsors a child, that is hope for more children to be sponsored. We need to go above and beyond just speaking, saying we need to act for Jesus. We need to do. That's how so many good things have been started: Someone comes up with an idea and puts it into action and when people see all the good change, it causes something big.

That's what Christians need to do.

Priscyla is a blessing. I want others to see those hidden blessings, those children in poverty. If one boy or girl is sponsored, he or she can grow in Jesus and change the world through Him.

The least of people can change everything. We need to start giving these kids hope, giving them the care and love and life they need to put them on a path for Jesus.
 

And you can help by sponsoring a child, whether in an AIDS-affected area or waiting over 100 days for a sponsor. You can show that you care. They aren't destitute when they know Jesus loves them.

These impoverished children are blessings in disguise.

(This is a post for Compassion Blog Month. Please join in the fight against poverty.)