Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord! Lift your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint for hunger at the head of every street. Lam. 2:19
On Sunday morning, I awoke to the news reports of the devastation that is throughout Puerto Rico and they still need to restore power, get water and everyday supplies to their people. Puerticans are lining up to receive what little supplies that have managed to arrive there. This hunger is not in some third world country, but in the U.S. There are private humanitarian efforts making an impact. Four thousand families will get a box of food – hopefully that will last them weeks. The rebuilding of Puerto Rico will take time.
On Monday morning, I woke up and saw the news of the physical devastation of lives lost due to a thoughtless act of violence. My stomach and heart sank. It burned for those who lost loved ones, who lost everything in this senseless act. All week it has been both inspiring and difficult to hear the stories from the survivors.
How do I respond to these acts of violence and devastation? Pour out! Pour out my heart in prayer, not anger. God knows the pain, hurt and devastation that grips the lives of my world – our children’s world. He will bring my water of tears and turn it into wine – His redemption. A redemption that leads to a response. Actions not just words.
How can I as a stay-at-home mom make an impact? I started feeling lost in the sea of ideas? What charities are helping and in what ways and areas? I did a little research and found Charity Navigator. It provides an overview, accountability and effectiveness rating for each charity and also provides ways to give directly on their site. It is a one-stop shop for giving. I also started looking around locally to see how I could help. My neighbor is spearheading a collection drive where I can take donations and a local business will transport these donations to those in the effected areas. My daughter’s 3rd grade class is collecting donations to “adopt a classroom” in Houston, TX. Amazon Smile will be shipping the donated items for free. When people come together and respond, the beauty and heart of this country starts to ring true.
Sometimes I feel like my little efforts of writing this blog don’t make any impact. It is just my words and actions that I follow. These devastated areas will be hurting for years. How can I help with the rebuilding now and in the future?
- Be generous and thoughtful in my giving.
- Make a commitment and see it through.
- Follow-up my giving with action.
Maybe I could plan a trip with my hubby to Puerto Rico over the next year to help their economy. I remember going to Thailand on my honeymoon. It was only 9 months after the Tsunami hit. There was a beautiful photo of a grand beach on the cover of my placemat. When I asked the server where this photo was taken, she said it was the same place where I was staying. My mouth literally dropped. The current beach was nearly half the size of the portrait and hardly as pristine. The beach that remained was still scattered with debris. It will take years to rebuild and many more tourist to pour in money in their economy.
The rebuilding of Puerto Rico will take time – maybe years. The rebuilding of lives and families that have been destroyed in the tragedy of Las Vegas will take years – maybe a lifetime. Let’s pour out our hearts and show others how much we can care. Pray for the families who have lost so much. Pray for your family to relate and respond. Pray for our nation’s leaders to be equipped with wisdom to react. Pray for a pouring out of God’s love in our nation. America is still one nation under God.
Pour Out
Pray. Respond. Reach.
What does my pouring out look like? – Prayer and Action
Here is a resource the list Charities involved in the rebuilding from hurricane Irma: Charity Navigator