christianparenting

Thankfully, this is not my dilemma but I would like to share a quote with you from the book Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger. 

“Sometimes I think, “If I die, I won’t have to see my children suffering as they are.” Sometimes I even think of killing myself. So often I see them crying, hungry and there I am, without a cent to buy them some bread. ‘My God, I can’t face it! I’ll end my life. I don’t want to look anymore.” - Iracema da Silva, resident of a slum in Brazil

Wow

Here I am worrying because my family doesn’t have everything we are ”supposed to” have, and yet, tonight my children will eat.

I just started this book and am so challenged and grateful at the same time. I am first grateful that my family and I have a roof over our heads, though it may not be what I think it should, and that we have food to eat. I am challenged because while we live in meager comfort, others starve.

Once again, we need to be acting and we need to educate our children about the world around them.

I wish I could raise my children in a bubble where everything is hunky dory and they need never be concerned with things such as poverty (not just poverty by our standards, people in the US would be considered rich in too many nations).

However, to truly raise my children as Christians, they need to be aware of the brokenness of the world (at age appropriate levels, of course, but it needs to be introduced, not ignored). Without a knowledge of this how will they understand God’s gracious gifts?

Plus, who knows what God’s plans to use my child or my family are. Might one of my sons grow to help fight this hunger or my daughter bring healing to those in pain?

It might not even be when they’re grown. I believe God can use them now as well. They diligently save their change for causes now, and as they see needs they want to do more.

I pray that we can make a difference, that we can all step up and make a difference.