A Drop In The Bucket

Chris and I have really been hit lately with a desire to do more to help kids. Yes, we are foster parents. Yes, we have a foster baby living with us. But honestly, sometimes I feel like that is a drop in the bucket compared to what I would like to be doing. Because in all actuality, life is still pretty cozy. Yes, foster parenting isn't easy by any means and there are definitely hard days (or weeks for that matter). But I am aware of the reality that there's so much more to be done, so many kids still desperate for love, hope, and yes sometimes an actual HOME.

I've been thinking of people I would consider true humanitarian heroes - those ones who have truly made a difference for thousands of people. Mother Theresa, MLK, the list could go on and on. They didn't stop with adding a little bit to their lives, just enough to receive a pat on the back from those around them. They truly gave their entire lives to make as much of a difference for their "cause" as they possibly could.

So how in the world does that apply to "the average person"? Can Chris and I personally take in every child in foster care? No, we can't. But can we choose to be a little more uncomfortable in our lives so that we can give a little more? Yes, absolutely.

I don't have all the answers yet, but I know I want to always be making a difference in people's lives. Yes, we all need to evaluate the "right place and time" to add things to our lives. I don't know about you, but I know sometimes for me that can become a really great excuse to stop doing anything at all. That's the question I want to keep asking myself - am I truly at capacity in my life, or am I just plain selfish? I understand that some may disagree with me on this. Maybe even say its not "wise" to do more. But I just can't get away from the fact that the need is SO great. What more can I do? What more can you do? Maybe for you it IS foster kids. Or maybe it's helping human trafficking victims. Tutoring a middle school kid. The needs are ALWAYS there, the question is what will we do about it?

I love the way it describes the parable in Matthew 25 in the Message:

"I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me."

When they are confused and asked how they ever did those things for Him, Jesus responds, "....I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me."