So Blessed.

I was making dinner tonight and noticed that someone had turned on the TV. I went in to turn it off and saw this on the news(warning, it’s a little bit graphic and it might make you cry).

I cried through the whole story and then for a few minutes afterwards.  All of a sudden I felt so blessed for all that I have and so petty for worrying about all of the little things that I worry about on a daily basis.  Things like not having the right ingredients for a recipe.  Things like not having the house that I want right now.  Things like wishing I was skinnier. 

I have never had to leave my home to find food.  I have never had to see my kids go without.  My biggest fear in the world is having to tell my kids that there is no food left.  This is the main driving force behind my compulsive need to store extra food for times of need.  My heart breaks when I think of these mothers – hungry and suffering in their own right trying to comfort their dying children.  I pray that I never know the sorrow that they must feel every day.  I pray that my family and I never have to know that pain. 

The hardest part of seeing this suffering is knowing that there is very little I can do to help.  If I could, I would invite them into my home.  I would package meals and send them over.  However,  I know that my good intentions and sympathy won’t fill bellies.  My sympathy pains are hollow without action.  So, here is what I’m doing about it.  I’m planning on skipping the grocery shopping for this week and donating our grocery money for the week to UNICEF.  The kids are having a rummage sale, selling some of their toys and donating the proceeds (they may or may not know about this yet).  Here is my challenge to you:  Do something.  Anything.  Look through your pantry and see if you can skip grocery shopping this week.  Have a bake sale.  Have a rummage sale.  Look at your budget and see if there is any way you can squeeze out a few dollars.  Then donate it to UNICEF.  Or the U.N.’s World Food Programme.  Or Save the Children.  Or the LDS Humanitarian Fund. You can learn more about these programs and others here and here.  It may be just a drop in the bucket, but a drop is better than nothing.  Then spread the word and ask your friends to do the same.  Then hug and kiss your little ones and thank God that you were born where you were.