She Matters

One thing I am passionate about is the plight of orphans.  I cannot imagine a life where I don't belong to anyone, where I'm not loved by anyone, where no one is looking out for my best interest or is even interested in me.  I cannot imagine any of my children having to endure that either.  But for 147 million children, that is the reality of their life.  They don't have a mom or dad to love them, teach them, look out for them, or provide for them.  It makes my heart break!  I want to do something... I don't just want to look at the number 147,000,000 and feel overwhelmed by the need. Or worse yet, unmoved by the statistic forgetting that there is a precious face and story behind each and every number.  To that end, I would like to introduce Fatherless Fridays.

I hope to dedicate Fridays to advocating for those who have no voice and no hope unless they are seen and rescued.  I am reminded that my heavenly father saw me and rescued me.  He did not leave me as an orphan.  He has done the same for each and every one of his children.  As a matter of fact, each one matters to Him.  He has seen each one of us - since the beginning of time - and he came to rescue us.  My prayer is that you have allowed yourself to be rescued and have not rejected that precious gift.

 Meet precious Stacy
 

She matters!  She is only 5 years old yet is already living existing in an institution.  She is such a tiny girl and so badly needs a family to love her, cherish her, teach her, and give her the opportunity to develop into the girl God created her to be.

She is hungry for love, she looks to you
Thirsty for kindness, she begs of you
Naked for loyalty, she hopes in you
Homeless for shelter in your heart,
She asks of you...
Will you be that one for her?

Are you Stacy's mom or dad?  Could you be the one to rescue her and see her potential?

What would it take for you to help spread the word so Stacy's parents can find her?  On your blog, facebook, twitter?

Could you spare $30 a month (a dollar a day) to help increase her fund to help her family bring her home?

Would you commit to praying for her daily?  That her family would find her and for her health (90% of children with Down syndrome die within the first year of being institutionalized).

Please look into her precious face and prayerfully consider what you can do to make a difference in her life.  You will be blessed!

Each One Matters

     Each.  One.  Matters.  I chose this title because when I think about what is most important in life, it's people.  Each life is precious!  Period.  Each person, each life, has infinite value and worth.  Not because what each one has to offer, not because of what each can do for me, not for how much each one makes or contributes to society, but simply because they were created in the image of God.  Each was created for a purpose and is loved beyond measure by the God of the universe.  And that is what makes each valuable.

     It seems so often that in the busyness of our days that the one thing most neglected is taking the time to value the people in our lives.  We acknowledge their presence, and as moms we care for our children's needs, but do we really treasure them?  Do we value relationships?  Do we enjoy investing into their lives?

     A number of years ago when I first met my husband's boss, his evaluation of our brief meeting as told to my husband was this, "I see Becky as... a task-oriented person."  I don't know why that has stuck with me or why it even bothered me - but it has.  It is true that I like to get things done quickly and efficiently.  I started thinking about what it would be mean if I wasn't task-oriented.  What would that make me?  So I finally asked my husband's boss.  His answer was relationship-oriented or people-oriented.  It seems that over the years, working with so many people, he saw people as either those who get the job done (and everyone get out of the way) or those who take time for relationships and build them as they are getting the job done.  As I prayed about it, I began to realize that what bothered me so much about his perception of me, was that he saw what was true.  I would get the job done at the expense of people.  I didn't like that about myself.  Since then, I've prayed daily that God would help me value people and relationships more.  That He would give me a heart for people - to see them as He does and then to allow Him to use me in their lives. 

     God has continued to teach me and remind me of the value of each person and that I should not be so busy that I don't have time to reach out to someone... to show love... to listen... to teach.  I love knowing that the greatest thing I can do is pour myself into people.  We were made for relationships - first with our heavenly father and then with people.  I want to encourage you today - take the time to enjoy each person God brings into your life today.  Because each one matters!