People Matter

The words slipped out of my mouth before I even had time to think through what I was saying.

If we sponsored through them, we'd be pulling our sponsorship.

Just like that, my careless words hung in the air. And my head hit the pillow and fast asleep I fell. Never in a million years could I have foreseen what would happen next.

The next morning it felt like a tremendous elephant was in the room as I saw blogs and articles reporting the actions of this organization. My toes felt danced all over. And my words began to bubble in my soul. I began to boil furiously as I considered what I had said. Were the actions of this "Christian humanitarian" organization heinous enough for me to consider my donation before the life of a child, family and community in need? Sure I didn't agree with their decision.  However, there is a commitment to see the sponsorship through...to the end.

I have boiled over this for days. My thoughts feverishly trying to make sense of what I continue to hear over and over. As for me, I must hold to Biblical truth and stand for what has been ordained since the beginning. I am not condemning an organization, though I do not agree with their initial actions.

Here is where I take issue.

Evangelical church...what are we doing? We fuss over policy changes in an organization that helps lift people, image bearers of our God, out of poverty, yet do we consider how we spend our money? As I pictured our sponsored child's face in my head over and over, staring at his framed picture on my bookshelves, I had to ask myself,

Does my sponsorship matter if the things I'm spending my money on are going toward items made my children in forced labor?

For the one child my family sponsors - prays for, writes to, sends gifts on his behalf - am I the cause of multiple (hundreds of) children being forced to labor for wages that are not even life sustaining?  Or better yet, are they so young that they cannot even make the choice to work themselves?  These items, my shoes, my kids toys, the packaged food I purchase...am I throwing money at items for my convenience and never considering that the smallest image bearers are being trafficked in order to supply my demand?



I am furious! Church what have we become?  We fuss over policies and procedures of organizations yet our own lifestyles do not reflect Christ. From the message the Lord spoke through Jeremiah, his prophet:

This is what the Lord says: Be fair-minded and just. Do what is right! Help those who have been robbed; rescue them from their oppressors. Quit your evil deeds! Do not mistreat foreigners, orphans, and widows. Stop murdering the innocent! ~ Jeremiah 22:3

For the one child our family is able to sponsor, we are grateful.  But now it's time to turn our attention to the ones we are oppressing. It's time to END IT! We need to educate ourselves, families, friends, communities and put an end to this.  We need to live our lives by the two greatest commands given.

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  ~ Matthew 22:37-29

Join me in educating ourselves on child labor and which companies go against the cause of Christ.  You can find more information here and here.

How are you in it to end it?  What resources have you utilized to make a difference for others?

Joy, the gift of Giving

The holiday season is quickly approaching.  This has to be one of my favorite times of the year.  The music, smells and decorations make it all exciting.  People hurrying and scurrying in the stores to find just what they need to gather friends and family under one roof in joyous celebration.  Ah! I LOVE it!

I can hardly wait to put up the tinsel and lights.  To wrap gifts and sip hot cocoa with little melting marshmallows. My favorite part is not receiving but giving gifts.  More than anything, I want to give my boys the gift of giving - joy.  Sharing opportunities with them and giving them the chance to, well, give.



So today we, as a family, went shopping.  Now our oldest son, who is 5, enjoys buying spending money.  He is more likely to buy something just to have it than he is because he actually wants to play with it.  As we ate lunch we explained to our boys - 5, 2 &1 - that we were going shopping in order to share Christmas with children around the world.  We asked them what things they thought other boys and girls would like.  And we allowed them to pick out items to send.  We, as a family and faith family, are packing shoe boxes to send to Operation Christmas Child.  A program sponsored by Samaritan's Purse.  We came home and filled the clear plastic shoe boxes with all sorts of goodies for 3 precious children somewhere in the world.  The boys put Christmas stickers on the outside of the boxes.  And in the midst of it all, our 5 year old says, "Mom, I love happy endings at Christmas."

It never occurred to me how giving would impact our oldest son.  To see the joy that filled his face, knowing that he would not be keeping the items he had chosen but instead sending them to another little boy or girl to enjoy.  Priceless.  Tomorrow we are going to make a card for each of our boxes.  Sending part of us with them as they travel.  Praying that some child, somewhere is impacted by a stranger from half way around the world.

As I sang my middle son to sleep tonight, these words took on a whole new picture for me.

Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
All are precious in his sight,
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

This holiday season, won't you give to a child in need?  If you need some ideas, here are some great ones:

• Samaritan's Purse - give to Operation Christmas Child to help send these shoe boxes around the world!


• Compassion International - sponsorship is wonderful, I know from experience! You can also check out their gift catalog link in the top right hand side of their site.


• World Vision - another opportunity to sponsor a child in need.  Or just give a gift this season.


• Toys for Tots - donate monetarily or just give a toy


• Salvation Army Angel Tree - donate monetarily

You may already participate in some manner.  Thank you! However, if you've never experienced the joy of giving, I encourage you to do so this holiday season.