Thirty-Five

Thirty-five children. 

35 faces are on my desk right now.

Thirty-five lives in need.  Desperate.

The reality is... that there are far more children that NEED help.  Far MORE than thirty-five. 

But... surely. Certainly. We CAN help thirty-five.

35...

Thirty-five faces that stare at me across this computer screen.  Hungry.  Desperate. Lonely. Wondering... does anyone really CARE about me?

My heart breaks... not only for the children that are completely orphaned... but for the mothers that are abandoned and left to care for the children... alone.  Women that are left with children and are supposed to figure it out.  Survive.

"Care for the orphan... and the widow"...

What about the single mom with 9, NINE, children that she has been abandoned with... what about her?  She's not a widow.  Her children are not orphans.

Does she want to GIVE them up?  I don't imagine she does... or does she?

I believe the truth is that she wants a better LIFE for her child... for her children.  And she is willing to make the SACRIFICE... and 'give them up'.  So that... they will have a better life.

The giving up of a child.

The LOVE that embodies that idea is difficult to comprehend.

But... isn't that what our Father did for us?

He GAVE UP His, one and only, perfect Son...

So that... we would have LIFE.

Eternal life.

He would have given up His Son for ONE.  For me.  For you.

If we are His... shouldn't we DO the same?

What do WE give up for these?  Thirty-five...

Thirty-five children in desperate need.

Thirty-five children that may or may not have someone that loves them.

Thirty-five children that have NOone that can provide for their most basic needs.

The call to CARE FOR THE POOR AND NEEDY has never been more r.e.a.l. than when looking at these faces... these faces that cry out... "I am hungry.  I am thirsty. Will you help?"

Thirty-five.

It is only a beginning.

35...

I think it is very possibly that we... you and me... CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE in the lives of these thirty-five.

Would you be willing to help ONE?


We start with prayer.  For direction.  For wisdom.

We follow that with ACTION.  We will DO something.

Will you help?

Pray?  Give? Spread the word?  Go?

Restore HOPE.  Change Lives.

TOGETHER... we can help thirty-five.

Can't we?