It Is A Poverty

Hi friend!

I've been wanting to share with you something I recently read. It's a quote (I can't remember where I saw it) of Mother Teresa's that made me stop and think.

I understand the gist of it. I'm just not too sure what she meant by "It is a poverty".

So, I'm gonna put it out there for discussion and hope you'll let me know your thoughts. And do you even agree?

Ok, so here is the quote -
  "It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish." 

My first reaction was -  ouch! 
My first question was - does this apply to me in any way?

And than I started to digest it a bit more and wonder about that one word - poverty.

The definition for poverty is: the condition or fact of being deficient.
In other words - lacking. And not a little, but lacking big time.

So, what kind of "poverty" would need to be present so that a decision would be made to put self-wants above the life of a child?

 {I'm almost in tears right about now. It breaks my heart that any one, including me, could put our own wants and desires above the life-saving needs of any child.}

Is the deficiency she speaks of about money? Well no, I really don't think that's it. 

I truly think that what Mother Teresa was talking about was a poverty, a deficiency, a lacking big time of .....
.... compassion
.... love
.... prayer
.... action
.... empathy

And, honestly? I think the whole meaning of what she is saying goes even deeper. See the words - to decide? That implies that there isn't a lack of knowledge; but an act of the will. Deciding to give our own wants priority over helping a child with life-saving needs. At the very least, it's about keeping (ie deciding to) our eyes and ears closed to the plight of so many children around the world.

So, friend, what is your take on what Mother Teresa was getting at?Agree or disagree I'd love to know.

Who Me?

Sometimes I feel so silly (even discouraged) thinking I can make any kind of difference with this little place in blog land. Even more outlandish is the dream I have of creating an Etsy shop to help raise money for Maribel's adoption grant and to help advocate for other orphans. 

Who me?
Inspire others to advocate for orphans by writing here in blog land?
I'm really not one to join causes. No marches or sit-ins for me.
I mean, I've never even written my Congressman.

Who me?
Make money by selling items I make? On Etsy?
Just a year ago I didn't even know what an Etsy was.
Can I find any extra time in my day - any day - to make things to sell?

Honestly, it all seems a bit far fetched, silly and like......
....well,  like "just a dream".

However, this dream is just not going away. I can "see" the things I want to make and sell. I can feel the compassion for these little ones who don't have a voice. I have a desire to help families raise funds for their child's adoption.

So friend what do I do?


There are two things that inspire me to keep dreaming.

First, I think of my friend, Lindy - she chases her dreams. She is actually pretty amazing. She's one of those people who doesn't just dream a dream. She makes her dreams happen.

Lindy has a saying on her blog that I just love:
Even if you live to be 100  - life is short.
Do something lasting with yours.

So, who knows?! Maybe my "something lasting" is making this dream of mine a reality. Hey, I've got just less than 50 more years to go until I make it to 100.


There is also the quote of Mother Teresa's that I have at the bottom of my blog:
"Not all of us can do great things.
But we can do small things with great love."

And it's true. Maybe my dream is silly small, but I can do it with great love.


From now on instead of saying - "Who me?"
I'm gonna start saying -  "Yea me!" 
Because, I want to do something with my life. Something lasting that's done with great love.