Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 5: 14-16 (ESV)
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28: 19-20 (ESV)
Among other things, she also packed six-hundred lollipops into her suitcase which she was going to check through to Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Her face lit up when she was telling us about that the other night. She just couldn’t get all the little children off her mind she would be seeing soon, with all those lollipops, diapers and other needed supplies and surprises for them in tow. Her caring teacher’s heart shined through her countenance as she continued to share with us.
Our daughter-in-law, Amy, was heading to Haiti with a mission group organized by a long-time family friend of hers and her husband, also our son. Their target destination—three orphanages in Port-au-Prince, Haiti; orphanages which were caused into existence by the horrific earthquake of 2010.
An earthquake of such magnitude and expanse that residents in Haiti are still struggling in its aftermath to find a light which would guide them to a new life.
And my daughter-in-law, Amy, and her friends, and so many others like them since that devastating day, are doing their very best to be, and to bring, that light for those who are there. Sharing the hope, love and light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In addition to ministering to the children in the three orphanages, they will be working with the children in the schools which have been rebuilt. As an elementary school teacher for a number of years, with a heart in particular for special needs children—those she meets will be blessed. She came close many times, after talking with her husband, to bringing some of those precious children home.
The children she meets in Haiti will be blessed. As will she. And changed.
Six-hundred lollipops. They are sure to make a difference, at least to initially help those going to minister to them to get past their walls of shyness and trust.
But while we envision those special moments, here’s another number to reflect upon—twenty-six thousand.
Twenty-six thousand children a day.
That was the number I heard a speaker mention to all of us who were gathered for a missions conference not too long ago.
That number, the speaker said, is the number of children around the world who every day starve to death or die from preventable diseases. Every day. I don’t know how he got that number, or how accurate it is, but based upon other things we all know are going on in the world, it may, in fact, be true. Maybe even understated.
Six-hundred lollipops of love. Twenty-six thousand children a day in need.
Haiti. Johannesburg, South Africa. Burkina Faso, West Africa. Honduras. Gainesville. Denver. Sudan, North Africa. Nanjing, China. East St. Louis. Miami.
So many places to shine a light. To share the hope, love and light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
So what do you think we should do?
What do you think Christ would do?
What do you think He wants us to do?
So, what in the world are we doing?
Thanks Amy for your example. Press on.
Keep letting your light shine. Keep loving the world.
In His Name—Scott
Copyright 2015. Scott L. Whitaker. All rights reserved.
