That’s the question Malachi asked me a few weeks after we signed up to sponsor Gladis through One Child Matters.
We were talking about the great need so many children have in the countries where One Child Matters serves. We wanted our kids to understand how wonderful it is that our gift of $34 each month provides our little Gladis with the food she needs, a good education, medical care, and the opportunity to learn about God.
Our four boys have never really known what it is to be in need. Even in our leanest times, they never missed a meal, never had to go without shoes, always had a bed to sleep in. They can’t imagine not knowing about God. This experience with sponsoring Gladis has been so good to give all of us, adults included, a reality check.
It is a fact that we have food in storage to last us several months (because my children’s mother adores bulk food purchases). Clothes are hanging out of our kids’ dresser drawers (which has everything to do with the amount of clothing they have and only a little bit to do with the method in which some of my boys stuff clothes quickly into drawers without bothering to fold them). We have access to so many books, they don’t all fit on our shelves. We are always surrounded by people who love us, people who serve us, people who care for us.
“You mean some of those kids don’t get to go to church? You mean without One Child Matters those kids might not eat sometimes? I think I might cry.” Malachi is a tender heart. His eyes filled with tears at the thought of a child not having what he has.
He looked around our house, “Mom, are we rich?”
Yes, dear boy. We are very rich. We have each other, we have a beautiful old home with crazy plumbing, we have plenty to eat, Bibles to spare, and a few too many jackets hanging in the closet.
One Child Matters and our dear little Gladis remind us in a new way of the blessings we have. This Thanksgiving, we are seeing our world through the beautiful brown eyes of our little girl in Honduras. We’re thankful to be “so rich” and for the blessing of the opportunity to share what we have so that a child’s life might be changed.
Take two minutes to watch this incredible One Child Matters video of Antony’s story. Both Matt and I were reaching for Kleenexes while we watched. (I guess that’s where Malachi gets it.)
Dear Sponsor – Antony’s Story from One Child Matters on Vimeo.
We would love for you and your family to participate with us in the One Child Matters ministry. What a perfect way to celebrate our blessings.
May you all be blessed with a wonderful, restful Thanksgiving holiday!
We are so rich in every thing here. We KNOW Jesus and are not afraid to gather for church!
My Christmas present this year was a little girl named Jacqueline that lives in Nicaragua. Her mother is alone and has 3 little ones to raise on a sometimes employment of a laborer. Jacqueline is 8 years old and her picture says it all, she looks sad and almost challenging. I fell in love immediately. Who can look away from a child in need and who doesn’t feel wonderful when they are needed?
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Tears…Thank you so much for sharing your story and this touching video. What a precious, precious little boy and what a blessing to my heart it was to see the joy and peace in his eyes and hear his tender words to his sponsors. This type of ministry has been on my heart for some time now, and I am drawn to these precious children who are not as nearly as “rich” as mine are. Thank you for sharing.