Compassion

So let me begin by saying that I had serious doubts about this post.  I was blessed to have been reared in a church and a family that values a generous heart and a giving spirit.  If you were at our wedding (many moons ago), you may have heard my pastor's challenge to me: 

... From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.  Luke 12:48

And not only is a generous heart desired and sought, that same heart does not talk about what it has done.

So it is with much hesitation that I tell you that for the past five years our family has supported four children through Compassion International.  Alida, Latifatou, Ricky and Antor have become part of our family and a constant reminder of all that we have and all that we can give.  While I pray that this connection with these four children has been a blessing to them and their families, I KNOW that our family has been equally blessed.  

I received the Compassion magazine yesterday and it took all I had not to cry tears of joy and sadness over this face: 

The innocent joy!  The trusting smile!  It heals my heart and breaks it at the same time.  I want it to be easy for him, but I am predicting it is not.  I want to capture that happiness and keep the sadness and hurt at bay.  I want to give him and all the others in the world the same opportunities and life that I give my own kids.  But that isn't possible.  I must remember that God has called me to do what I can do and He is BIG enough to take care of everything else.  

God has blessed me with much: love, health, family, friends, a warm house, food in my belly, a loving husband, an awesome father for my girls, two wildly smart, funny, spirited girls...the list goes on and on.  These blessings are given so that we may pass them on to others.  This little guy makes me wonder...what else can I pass on?