I’ve been thinking a lot recently about what it means to appreciate the little things in life. You know what they say, “it’s the little things in life that really matter.” But sometimes it is so easy to get caught up in life. As Americans, we are always busy working, playing, or perhaps even sleeping the days away. It’s easy to forget just how blessed we are to have our basic need met AND walk in freedom.
My best friend is on her first mission trip to Kenya, Africa and her team worked in a medical clinic all day today. She mentioned that every single person that came for assistance, no matter what age (3 months to 30 years +) was dehydrated. There is just not enough clean water to satisfy the thirst of the body. I was reminded how blessed we are to have an abundance of water because for some people, there’s not clean water…ever.
Then, I was reminded of a time when our RTS team traveled to India in early 2010. One of the first things we noticed, besides the chaotic driving, was the trash all over the land. In India, there is no garbage system. Garbage trucks and garbage routes do not exist, therefore, trash is left on the streets with no proper place. Not to mention that the country is overpopulated causing dirty living conditions in the majority of cities. Can you imagine if everyone in America started throwing their garbage in their front yard, and on the streets? Can you imagine if you were unable to shower with clean water and when you were thirsty, had nothing to drink? It is easy to forget the circumstances happening in other countries. In fact, sometimes, it is easy to forget about the circumstances happening in our own back yard.
The United States is finally beginning to catch the drift about human trafficking. This is something that has been taking place in other countries for decades, and now we know that it has been happening right here on US soil as well. The media has blown up the topic recently with CNN starting the Freedom Project, Ashton Kutcher starting a campaign regarding human trafficking, and there are several other organizations, TV shows, and celebrities speaking up about this horrific crime. I am often times astounded though at the number of people who are not aware of human trafficking, poverty, and other social justice issues. I heard a story from one of our RTS teammates that said someone once asked them, “Are you talking about traffic tickets, as in speeding tickets?” Wow. There are many people who are ignorant to the issues happening in the world. It is not necessarly their fault, it’s just that education about the issues have never taken place, or a real life experience to the situation has never been encountered.
I challenge you to take note of the little blessings in your life. I challenge you to then pray for those who don’t have them. Remember the poor. Remember the weak. Remember the orphans. Remember the dirty. Remember the dying. Remember the hurt. Remember the widows. Remember the thirsty. Remember the hungry. Remember the sick.
Be the change you want to see in the world. - Mahatma Gandhi
Love & Liberty- Stacey Wesche
