Where much is given, much is expected

A friend of mine recently read this book that really impacted her called Where the Wind Leads.  It is about a refugee family from Southern Vietnam who flee their country in four fishing boats.  After a long journey where they are separated, only one boat is rescued.  They move to America, where the author goes on to live a successful, educated, filling life.  He later returns to Vietnam and finds his cousins whose fishing boats floated back to Vietnam all those years ago. He says:

"I found myself feeling guilty and ashamed--guilty because I had received a blessing they had not, and ashamed because I had not done more to help them...Why me?...why did the same wind take our boat in one direction and theirs in another?  We were blessed-there's no other way to say it--but why weren't they?  Were we more worthy in some way?  Were we more deserving of rescue?  I don't see how; my family's entire contribution to our rescue was to lie there waiting to die....

"...I worked long and hard to get where I am today, but the humbling truth is that all my hard work has been possible only because of a blessing I received that I did nothing to deserve.  I believe that blessing is something I am expected to pass on to other people any way I can.  I think that's what we are all expected to do."

This quote has been in my mind all day.  I feel blessed beyond measure, in so many ways.  We all have something we can share with others in need.  It can be a physical gift such as money, food, and clothes.  It can also be a spiritual gift like love, charity, talents and service.  No matter what we each have, we must bless others with our "gifts", especially if we have been blessed with so much.  

Immediately, my thought was "What can I do, what can I give?".  Especially when I recently saw an email with a plea to make a difference to many refugees in crisis.  Usually, don't we think to ourselves, "Oh, those poor people!"?  I do!  I look into helping for a moment, then get distracted, and fail to make a difference or help.  Or I just wring my hands in worry, thinking there is nothing I can do.  Well, there usually IS something we can do, even in the smallest way.  

This family is making a small difference, and I believe that my family will join them.  Here is a link to what they are doing, and how we can help too!

This is what Tracey (the person putting it together) says:

"The refugee problem is so enormous; it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and wonder what we can possibly do to help. But after watching video after video about this latest crisis in Bangladesh, I just kept saying to myself, “I can’t do nothing”. I remember going to the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC, and being shocked at how many Americans ignored or denied what was going on in Europe. For that reason, I want to make sure I do something to help these refugees.  I don’t want to look back and realize, that while all these horrible things were going on, I did nothing. I felt bad, but ignored it because I was too busy, didn’t know what to do, or couldn’t believe it was actually happening!

The idea is instead of spending money by going out on this particular Friday (April 6th)- stay home, make an inexpensive meal, play a board game or watch a movie you already own - donate the money you saved and take the opportunity to talk with your family about where the money is going." 

I love that idea!  Such an easy way to help our kids be aware of other's plight and make a contribution.  Will you join with us on April 6th if you can help?

May we each find our own way to lift others up, and make a difference in this world!