By Kari Patterson,
Oregon blogger
KariPatterson.com
I’m continuing my adventure through Richard Stearn’s book, The Hole in our Gospel. It is ripping me to shreds, in the best way possible. Every time I read it I want to run outside and knock on doors and wave the book around like a madwoman and say, “Read this! Children are dying! What will you do?!” But since I can’t leave my kids alone in the house and because it’s 10 o’clock at night I’m electronically knocking on your door and I’m virtually waving the book around because children really are dying and I really do wonder what we will do.
Tonight I did all I knew to do, I got online and found another child to sponsor. Why? Because baby Florinah, who lives in a severely affected AIDS and HIV community in Zambia, is one of God’s children and I know He loves her beyond comprehension. Because her first birthday is this Monday and for her birthday she will now have a sponsor! Because just down the hall, tucked safely in her crib, lies my little one-year-old darling. Because at my side lies my little boy, sound asleep in his little monkey jammies. And I look at this precious boy of mine and there’s nothing in the world I wouldn’t do for him. Tonight I made him his favorite dinner–whole wheat pancakes–and we cut them in two–half for me and half for him–and we sat together and ate our delicious pancakes (with organic eggs and milk!) and talked and laughed after sister went to bed. Tonight I tucked him in and read books and prayed and kissed his cheeks and inhaled his perfect little puppy breath and just thanked God a million times over for that crazy little guy who is my son. He is my child. And while I may not be so intoxicated with love for someone else’d kid, he’s mine and I’d do anything for him. And then I was reminded that one of the books he likes to read is a book of Jesus songs, and one of the songs goes like this:
“Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow black and white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.”
I was reminded tonight, as I thought of the song and as I read The Hole in our Gospel while snuggled in bed next to my precious son, that they’re all God’s kids. I don’t know them, I’ve never hugged them or touched them, but God looks at them with the same adoring eye that I have for my kids. And we, we all, have the awareness (26,500 children die every single day to causes related to poverty), the access (get online!), and the ability (go without Starbucks! Just $35/month sponsors a child.) to save lives, bring hope, share Christ. It is SO easy to help. We just have to do it.
Need more motivation? Pick up The Hole in our Gospel and read it. Today.
Ok, I’m done pounding on your door and I’ll quit waving around the book like a madwoman. But please consider what you’ll do today to help this cause, because they’re all God’s kids.
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