Broken houses and Boo-boos

Jorge Silva / Reuters  Photo from MSNBC.com

So, my little girl has a cold.  This means that she starts the night laying in the middle of our bed, propped up on some pillows so that she can fall asleep.  Her sweet Baba lays with her until she fades off into sleep.  Usually, I would be in the living room anticipating Demetri's next wakeup - but I was so tired I couldn't keep my eyes open.  I crawled into bed with them, but couldn't fall asleep.  She was laying on top of the covers, so I couldn't pull them up to my neck the way I like to.  They had the pillows in some mini-mountain position, so I couldn't fix them "just right" under my head.  I was hanging off the bed.  I had tons of complaints running through my very exhausted head.

What was I thinking?  I stopped to think of the recent earthquake in Haiti.

The suffering and pain being endured by the people in Haiti at this very moment was completely inconceivable to me.  During this, and any disaster of such magnitude...is it even POSSIBLE to imagine how those affected are feeling?  The pains of their everyday existence. Their struggle for some sort of normalcy.  I thanked God for my family, prayed that He would have mercy on those struggling there, and snuggled with my little angel to sleep.

When we woke up the next morning, I sat with Sophia at the computer.  I showed her some pictures of what was happening in Haiti (selective photos I should add).  But as simple as they were, I wanted her to see that in some way....somewhere far away, there were people like her and I that needed love.   I also want her to know the joy and Blessing of giving.  We decided that when we went shopping today we would get some supplies to send to them.  I can't say enough about the IOCC  (International Orthodox Christian Charities) and all that they do.  We decided to pack up some hygiene kits.  They have so many ways you can help - and I am thankful that they provide this information to those looking for a way to help.

I can honestly say that I often feel that what I am able to offer to those in such dire need is so meager, perhaps even insignificant.  There are millionaires, business, teams, etc...that give so much monetary assistance. But,  I didn't want to stand by and do "nothing". I didn't want to wait and rely on everyone else to help those poor families.  I didn't want my daughter to grow up not knowing what it is like to give back and to reach out to those truly in need.   We decided to do something as a family. Something that we could labor together and do for our fellow brothers and sisters.  A labor of love.

While we were shopping today, Sophia picked up something that she thought a little girl would like and said "Can we send this to the people with the broken houses and boo-boos?".

Lord, have mercy.