Monday, February 7, 2011

Dear God,

Today you answered a long breathed prayer. I received that which I had longed for. From the inside out, I was happy. I was happy. As I sat in my warm home looking outside at the magnificent snowy scene, giving thanks for my wondrous gift, I was happy.

At the same time a scene flashed by me and I stopped, paused to reflect, to consider the pictures before me. A mother who couldn't feed her child. A teenager forced into slave labor. A family with no home. Rural mountain people with no medicine. A child with no one to love her. Scores of people in refuge camps barely living from day to day. Broken people, lost, lonely and suffering.

While I celebrated my blessing in the comfort of an American home, abundant freedom and lots of love from family and friends, you brought to me a picture of life occurring right now to millions of people. You reminded me of the plight of so many. While I received my heart's desire, millions prayed for food, freedom, and help.

Although I was grateful for my many blessings, you stirred me to remember others. What do I do, Good Lord? What do I do?

Teach me compassion
and mercy,
O God,
I pray,
not the kind
where all
I do
is pray.
Show me
how to give
where it counts.
Remind me
that I
am not
charged with filling
my own storehouse
but helping others.

Gratefully, Andrea