Since American Idol did America Gives Back, and several other bloggers went on a
Compassion trip, I've been seeing many bloggers talking about sponsoring children. I've wondered what God would want us to do. We are trying hard to pay off all our debts, and we are finally succeeding. And I feel God wants us to continue on that path and not add any bills. So where does that leave sponsoring a child? And then there is my own hang ups with sponsoring. I know they are irrational, but I wonder where our money goes. Does it really go to help the children? I know that Compassion is legit, but so is the American Heart Association, and only one penny of every dollar they raise goes to congenital heart defect research. I know that strokes and heart attacks are also very important, but the way I see it, usually those things happen to elderly people, who have had a chance to live life. CHDs happen to babies, who haven't had that chance. They deserve that chance. But I digress..I'm going down the wrong path for this post.
I've been wrestling in my mind about all of this.
And then, this morning, at 4 am, I was wide awake. And that Still Small Voice was telling me to just pray. To pull out maps, and choose impovershed countries and teach my children about them, and to pray for them. Because, even if we aren't giving monetarily, praying is just as valuable.
But, I argued with God. I said, "just pray? That's it??" You see, we had watched Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium a few nights ago, and there was an accountant. They called him Mutant because surely accountant meant a cross between a counter and a mutant. Mutant was a "just" man. As in, it was
just a toy store. Only every one else could see the magic that the store held. So I felt like it was
just prayer. But the voice gently nudged and said, "oh no, not
just prayer. Because prayer is more magical than that" And yes, I do know that prayer is not magical, but do you get my drift? It is more than just a prayer. Prayer changes things. And if all we can do is pray, then that is enough. More than enough.
Somewhere, I have a nice laminated map of the world. I cannot find it though. I remember it last in a house we lived in 4 houses ago, so it may be long gone. But we are going to get a map out, and choose countries. We will learn about the people there, and their struggles. And we will pray. Earnestly pray. And that's more than enough, for now.
