Touchy Topic Tuesday: The Gift of Life.

This week I was looking at pictures of the 45 Most Power Images of 2011.  If you haven't seen them, you should.  It records a pretty tumultuous year, from natural disasters to social upheaval.  

When I got to number 30, my oldest daughter was looking over my shoulder and sort of half-laughed because she didn't know what it was.  I told her, "That's a baby who is dying.  It doesn't have enough food or water to be healthy right now."  She then asked me something I don't think I will ever forget:

"Is that for real?"

Yes.  Yes, it is, unfortunately for real.  How astounding it really is to think about that babies, and people of all ages for that matter, die because of lack of access to basic nutrition and clean drinking water.

My daughter asking me this also reminded me of a fellow blogger who recorded a similar situation with his family.  It moved him so much that his family, with the help of generous donations from his readers, are building two kindergartens in Vietnam.

From the mouths of babes, right?

My husband and I have decided to participate in Advent Conspiracy for the past four or five Christmases with our church.  The idea is to spend less, give more, worship fully, love all.  Now even though it's special during the Christmas season, we really should be doing this all the time, right? 

I'll be honest.  I'm stingy.  My husband can attest to this.  He has like, this gift of giving.  I remember when I bought him two nice watches when we first got together, and he eventually gave them both away when people were admiring them.  I was so flipping mad, but I hid my anger because he was cute.  Thank God he hasn't given our kids away when people admire their cuteness!

But pictures of dying children, man, they hit me right here (pointing to my heart).  All my walls crumble.  My greed dissipates at the thought of their tears, their shallow breaths, their limp limbs, their lack of hope.

But their story doesn't have to end there.  We who are fortunate can step into it in so many ways, in the same way that Jesus stepped into our story, in the incarnation of love.  We have so much to offer, so much compassion and resources to bring.  

This is what I want to teach my children.  

Yes.  This is real.  But we can change that.

(to learn about one of the charities our church family supports to provide clean drinking water to underprivileged communities, visit Living Water International)