Today is a day for a story.
A story of home.
If you’ve followed along the past few weeks, you may have caught on to this little series that’s happening here at mercyINK, the Home Stories.
My desire for the Home Stories is to feature other women, other mamas, and where they physically dwell, but also the deeper issues of home, and what makes a house a home.
Dana, Allyson, Paula… they each share a fresh perspective; A sweet definition of home and family.
And today should be another story.
But I just can’t do it.
After I tuck each child into bed, safe, warm, comfortable, Adrian and I sit on our cushy couch and catch up on the happenings of the day.
After talk, I sit down to read through the day’s emails. The first I open and really read through, Michele-Lyn‘s. Beautiful. Powerful. She references Ann’s post, and I read through that, too. And they resonate deep down. Those thoughts about why some are blessed to be born into freedom, and some into war and bondage and poverty.
It’s a tension I’ve wrestled with for years (and have processed here on the blog, like here and here and here)
And then this, this is what I cannot escape:
Vernon Brewer, President of WorldHelp, wrote on July 12th:
“Over 17,000 Syrians have been brutally murdered, and most of the world is doing nothing about it.
How many people have to die before this crisis gets our attention? How many innocent children need to suffer before we choose to act?”
A home story?
There is no house for them.
image via @world_help
No physical dwelling. No place to lay their heads.
And really, do they have home- a place to dwell with their family? A place where their “domestic affections are centered“?
There is no home and no family and no rest.
“The latest reports say that at least 1.5 million displaced Syrians are in desperate need of humanitarian aid. Every day these numbers increase exponentially as the fighting continues and thousands of Syrians are fleeing for the borders—as many as 8,000 per day.” (Brewer, 2012)
I hesitate to link here, but I will, with a warning that this CNN video disturbs, wrecks, enrages, and horrifies.
I could not finish watching.
But those families? They can’t just turn off the TV. The horror of blood stained streets, that is their reality today. Right. Now.
Can I answer the questions of why?
Can I understand the tremendous mercy (or chance?) poured out on me to be born and live here, in this safe place, while across the world, hundreds of women huddle in what they call “the widows’ basement“, most after their husband’s were literally blown to pieces by bombs?
via Sunday Times (UK)
In the UK’s Sunday Times February 2012 article, the reporter writes,
On the lips of everyone was the question: “Why have we been abandoned by the world?”
Friends, if you are in Christ, you are not the world. You are of a heavenly Kingdom. How can you turn away?
We could spend our whole lives trying to answer why, but I don’t believe there will ever be an answer this side of heaven.
Friends, sisters, I know this is heavy. But don’t turn your heart off or turn your eyes away because you’re here and they’re there and what can you do about it anyway?
Syrian boys who have lost their homes and their families, via @vernonbrewer
I leave you with this plea from WorldHelp, and ask that you go, right now, and give generously.
Choose to be the difference.
“Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3: 14-18)
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* * * Quick update: I totally get hesitation about giving to any ol’ agency. How do you know they are legit and the money is going where it’s supposed to go? My husband and I have been WorldHelp supporters for several years, now. They are well known for the Children of the World Choir, which tours the states to raise awareness and funds for children who have experienced civil war, poverty, famine, etc… We also sponsor a child through WorldHelp and have found them to be an outstanding Christian organization. Read more about: their financial commitment & their faith in Jesus.
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…. Sharing with some of these lovely blog communities…
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Let’s connect
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Oh, so very broken now. Tears come so easily these days. I am so very tired of inaction on my part — yet in my action, I cannot leave my family behind. That has been what’s hardest to reconcile. They MUST come with me.
Will you tell me more about this organization? I am so leery of trusting, yet I want to give.
Thank you for sharing your heart — and moving mine.
Michele-Lyn:
Oh, I know. I hear your heart!
As for WorldHelp, they are INCREDIBLE. They have come to our church several times with the Children of the World Choir, which is just incredible, and raises money for CauseLife, a clean water project. We also sponsor a child through WorldHelp, similar to Compassion, and have found them to be reliable in faith and finances. You can read their faith statement here: http://www.worldhelp.net/about-wh/our-faith/
and financial commitment here: http://www.worldhelp.net/about-wh/financials/ Great question… I totally understand not trusting some agencies! Let me know if you have other questions. blessings, lauren
Thanks for the info. I will check it out later today… My time on the computer is just about up :)
And thanks for the Pre-Algebra spam blocker.. lol :)
lol… I know! I had to do something, I get SO many spam comments that are clearly weird spammo things, just way out there comments. But it’s a bit ironic because I’m not a math girl & I’ve had to stop and think on some of them haha!
We should never turn a blind eye or live in a box where we are secluded from the things, the happenings from this world. I think that is Christianity’s biggest sin – assuming someone else will do it, turning a blind eye… The one thing we can always do is PRAY! Fervent God’s filled prayers full of HIS Glory! Thank you for a wonderful reminder and for sharing this news – that unfortunately isn’t making the front headlines.
Have a God-filled day!
This is hard stuff. I want so badly to go, but I know my place right now is in my own home raising my children. We support a child through Compassion and support others who are serving. It’s hard. Honestly, I don’t really know what else to say except I’m thankful that for whatever reason God has placed me here and I know he will use my fish and loaves for a great purpose.
Thanks for linking up.
Mary Beth
It’s a daily tension for me, Mary Beth. I continue to wrestle—knowing God has called me to raise my children, but I can’t ignore the needs… Seeking to obey, whatever that means and looks like. Thanks for your sweet comment, new bloggy friend :)