dear God,

today i woke up, took a hot shower and ate a piece of fresh fruit.

once i was ready for my day to begin {because we both know a momma needs to be mentally prepared for what lies ahead} i walked into my boys bedroom and flipped the light switch on, bent over and gently woke them each from their restful slumber.
they were tucked so tightly in their soft beds.
their heads were rested on their cushy pillows.

it was time to get up for school.

they each took a hot shower, used a fresh bar of soap and there was shampoo and conditioner at their fingertips.

after their bellies were full they each stepped into clean, dry clothes and then put name brand tennis shoes on their feet.

our luxury SUV was waiting for us outside.
we drove the couple of miles through town to a school house waiting to teach hundreds of children ready to learn, mine included.

i trust the teachers and the staff at my children's school.
i am in their school numerous times throughout the week.
each of their teachers knows me.

at 1:50 i was waiting in the car pool lane to pick jake up first.
then, at 2:ish i was in line to get jonah and jett.

i'm so thankful i have a husband who shares the feeling that my staying at home with {and for} the kids is more important for our family than a second paycheck.
because of this sacrifice i am able to drop off and pick up our children each day from school.
we never have to wonder if they made it home from school, or if they are being bullied on the bus, or that they may get picked up by a stranger while walking home.

when we get home from school i sit down with each of them and go over today's school work and tonight's homework.
jett's weakness is his sight words.
jonah's weakness is decoding words.
jake's weakness is his desire to read for his required thirty minutes per night.
and i'm always there to help.
again, i'm thankful for the means to be able to sit with them to do their homework.

i know how blessed i am.

i also see how very, very blessed my children are.

i can see how blessed the families around me are.
the families that go to the same dance studio as mckinley and jake are blessed.
the families that attend the same church we do for wednesday night activities are blessed.
the families that have boys in jonah's cub scout pack are blessed.

when i look around at all my family has, and all that the families around me have, i can't help but think of the thousands and thousands of children who have far less.

the children in impoverished countries have so little.
they may not get awoken from a peaceful sleep in a comfy bed.
they may not eat a breakfast that'll fill their bellies.
they may not have mobile transportation to school.
they may not have a school.
they may not have caring teachers.
they may not have a daddy who has a decent paying job that allows momma to stay home with {and for} them.
they may not have two parents.
they may never have homework to do...or complain about.
they may never go to dance class, or wednesday night church activities, or cub scouts.

what can i do to make a difference?
what can my family sacrifice?
would it make a difference in my children's lives to learn about children who have far less than they do?

i know the answer.
i do.

today i went to the gas station and got a fountain drink.
yesterday i ate biscuits and gravy from hardee's for breakfast.
and then hubs and i had sonny's for lunch.
later that afternoon we stopped and bought a bunch of groceries...some of which were impulse buys. {like the sprinkle cookies}

the cost of all of that could've made such a difference in the life of a child who longs for sponsership through compassion international.

Lord, i ask you to give me your eyes.
break my heart for what breaks yours.
show me what is important and what is not.
deepen my passion to help others in need.
may i be more like you.
may my light shine for you.

thank YOU for all you give me and my family.

amen.

1 John 3:16-18 this is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. if anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

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remember last week i told you that i would be blogging for compassion international throughout the month of september??
the goal is to get 3,108 children sponsered this month.

good news!
837 children have already been sponsered!!!!!
2,271 still to go.

we can do it!

pray over one of these faces...he/she just might be your next sponser child.


Sponsor a Child