Friday, June 19, 2009

So Thankful...



So I was reading Mesha's post about our mentality in America toward our food, which really applies to everything. It's just fact that our environment forms our way of thinking whether we want it to or not. My husband works in a doctors office and he is always commenting on how people expect "fast food" health care. People will complain if they have to wait 15 minutes for an x-ray because they have a hair appointment. ITS YOUR HEALTHCARE PEOPLE NOT MICKEY D'S. We are surrounded by a faced-paced, need it now, 15 min's or its free society. Not only that but we live in an abundance. Our Recession is other countries fortunes, truly it is! I'm not belittling the crunch people are feeling, it's been hard for everyone. When a spouse loses a job, or your pay is cut, or the savings account is dry, things become difficult. But are we thankful for what we DO have?

Almost exactly a year ago I spent two weeks in South Africa ministering to orphans, children with AIDS, and in their public schools. It was a wonderful experience that has cursed me for life. I don't see a half-full plate being thrown away the same.Sometimes our abundance of food disgusts me. Just today I was having lunch at Jason's Deli with my husband and the buss-boy came and took my plate. I had a couple bites of bread left and that was it. He threw it in this portable trash-can and my imagination started painting a picture of what the inside of that trash can looked like. Salad greens, half-sandwiches, parts of cookies, un-finished soup, the crust the spoiled child refuses to eat, ect. Then I imagined those beautiful dark faces I haven't been able to forget, rummaging through the trash.

At one feed we did about 100 little kids came scammering out of their tin box 'homes' to get in line for their meal. We partnered with a group that goes to this area twice and week and feeds them squashed pumpkin,rice, and gourd. We were there to serve but I was so broken because I knew back home I wouldn't even think about eating what I was serving to these starving kids. For some of them, it was the one meal out of two they would get for the ENTIRE WEEK. 



How hungry am I? Are we "starving" like we say?

WE ARE BLESSED! PERIOD! How thankful are we that our needs are meet? Even if someday we don't know where our next meal is coming from will we have faith to trust that God is our provider? I try to live by a motto: "Don't pray for something you aren't willing to be an answer too". Pray for the hungry, the sick, the naked, the poor. Then get off your knees, and let God use you to meet that need.


AMEN






3 comments:

  1. AMEN!!! Wow Audrey, thanks for bringing it back into perspective. God really has blessed us in America and we can pervert our blessing by selfishly indulging in it rather than blessing Him back. We pass up opportunities EVERY DAY to feed Jesus, to clothe him, to provide shelter when we pass that person on the street and I often forget that. Keep throwing your heart out there girl, YOU KNOW you have a lot to share and God has and will continue using your voice powerfully. Seriously, release all those "Audrey juices" to bless the rest of the world. I Love You!

    Matthew 25:36-40

    I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

    "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

    ps...you are dyslexic...instead of "fast-paced," lol, you wrote "faced-past" :) gotta love your fast fingers. i'll give you some grace though. see u 2nite.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a great post! I constantly try to live a life of gratitude, because you are right we are blessed. Very blessed. This topic frightens me because I am raising children in this fast paced immediate gratification society. I want my children to know that true gratification comes from patience, selflessness, gratitude and love for all mankind.

    ReplyDelete
  3. such an awesome post!! I think that so often and am trying to change everything I do. It is my dream to go to Africa one day to help out and experience it.

    ReplyDelete