How many times have I said this? I don't know. I said it again today. Why? In response to the news that Old Navy is having a sale this weekend. I was seriously glum because I didn't think I had enough money to go buy any $8 dresses.
But then I realized. I am seriously sad about this? When I have a closet and a dresser full of clothes? When I just got rid of things because I thought I had too much clothing?
It made me think: how skewed is our perspective of poverty. Of what it is to be poor. "Can't, I'm poor." "Wish I could, but I'm poor." "I don't have any money, but..." these and their similarities are the refrains of college students, including myself! What do we usually mean when we say these things?
We can't afford a trip to Scarowinds.
Or a regular priced dinner at Moe's--we should wait until Monday.
We can't go to the movie; we'll redbox it.
We're not ordering pizza tonight; PB sandwiches it is.
etc.
But, is this really poverty? As I sit on my couch in my climate-controlled dorm, settling down to do homework for my high quality, private, liberal arts college education, in my monogrammed soccer gear with my personal laptop and smartphone within arm's reach, I say "I'm poor" in response to a friend's invite to Cookout.
Is that what poor looks like?
I recently read Ann Voskamp's blog: A Holy Experience (check it out here). Writing about child sponsorship, she says:
"If you have any food in your fridge, any clothes in your closet, any small roof, rented or owned, over your head, you are richer than 75% of the rest of the world. We are the Esthers living inside the palace.
If you have anything saved in the bank, any bills in your wallet, any spare change in a jar, you are one of the top 8% wealthiest people in the world. We are the ones living inside the gate."
I have lots of food in my fridge, plenty of clothes in my closet, a sturdy roof over my head and money in the bank. I do not seem as poor anymore.
I have a beautiful, loving Christian family. I have too many friends to count that love and care about me deeply. Most of all, I have the perfect everlasting sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I have hope.
Christianity Today, a leading Christian magazine, published their June issue with the cover story, "Want to Change the World? Sponsor a Child" (check out the full story here). It follows the story of Bruce Wydick, a top economist, and a few of his graduate students who led a study in three different countries on three different continents, measuring the effects of child sponsorship through Compassion International (their website is here). The results were phenomenally in favor of sponsorship. To me, the most striking finding of their study was the increased level of Hope found in sponsored children over non-sponsored children.
So, all this to say: I decided to put the 'giving' into thanksgiving. In recognizing exactly how poor I am Not, God showed me it was time to share. A few of my friends and I have partnered to sponsor a little girl named Angelique in Rwanda. We would be honored if you would pray with us for her and her family!
I can honestly say that giving Compassion a credit card number is one of the best things I have ever done. I am so happy and excited to begin this venture! I am blessed to be a part of Compassion's ministry of Releasing Children From Poverty In Jesus' Name. I am blessed to be able to share the hope and love that I have receive every day.
So today I am poorer than I was yesterday.
But I am so much richer already.
I guess poor is a pretty relative term.
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