This morning, as I went about my normal routine of checking CNN and MSNBC at the beginning of my day, my heart caught as I came across a story about Myanmar refugees literally living out their entire lives in a Thailand dump.
Anyone who truly knows me, knows this… I don’t cry. I’m not an emotional person. Not even when I should be.
However, there is one topic in life that I am truly passionate about; that, without fail, rips me to my core – the plight of women, children, and orphans in third world countries.
As my eyes scoured the words on the screen, my heart dropped and I suddenly burst into tears. Moments before I was trying to determine how to spend my upcoming birthday. Do I want to go for a bike ride? Do I want to take the dog for a hike? What kind of cake will I have (that’s easy… organic carrot cake w/ whipped topping).
But here… these kids survive on the moldy trash of others. Their feet are scarred as they walk, barefoot, through the dump. No education. No healthcare. No roof. No food. No hope.
I am so ashamed of who I am, and my selfish American ways. God, please forgive me. Please forgive us.
There must be something that can be done. Something.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/09/rubbish.boy/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
I am speechless… and ashamed.
Don’t be ashamed! The life that you have is simply a wonderful blessing that God has given you. God has placed us in this wonderful country (barring Obama) and knows that we have plenty of work to do right here! Thank God for the dirty windows you have to clean every spring – it means you have a home. Thank God that you pay $3+ for gas because it means that you have a vehicle. Thank God for having to cook dinner for Toby – it means you have food. Thank God for having to make your bed for it means you have a place to sleep.
God has blessed you with much but not for you to be ashamed.
[...] HT: Ellen Stevens [...]
[...] HT: Ellen Stevens [...]
Gripping, I was appalled the other day trying to find out the “end of the story” for the Myanmar situation and really could find very little. The world rolls over and comforts itself, glad that it wasn’t them. Thanks for passing this on.