I have recently come to the realization that I have nothing to complain about. That's right--
NOTHING! Sure, my life has its little imperfections and I DO stumble, and grumble and complain.
BUT. I. SHOULDN'T. {Yes, I already knew this, but it's one of those things you need a reminder about, oh let's say,
every other day, at least! Or is it just me?!} Let me tell you what has helped put things in perspective for me...
1) Soul-winning, the act of taking your eyes off of yourself for a change and looking at the spiritual (and physical) needs of others is quite the eye-opening experience.
My husband has recently begun going soul-winning on Fridays with a pastor in our area. They are going door-to-door. Normally, this is kind of difficult to do as most people's houses are surrounded by iron fences and gates making it impossible to actually get to the door. Also, most people are not too keen on the idea of coming out to talk to a stranger. I completely understand that, I don't answer my door either; it's just too dangerous. However, Hubby has not been having that problem. The neighborhood that they are visiting in does not have the luxury of bars nor gates. They are fortunate if they have windows and doors. It could be labeled a newly developing neighborhood or a ghetto, or something in between. The point is, it ain't much to look at. The government likes to give people a little plot of land that is completely unkempt and covered with over-your-head weeds and grass, and that maybe has 4 boards holding up a piece of tin, and then proudly boast about the scores of people they have "given land and houses" to. Yah, right...
Such is the way of life for many here. And as grim of a picture as this may be it is a step up for some. Such as the couple that Hubby talked to a couple weeks ago. Just hearing the abbreviated version from him was enough to make me shudder, hold my babies tighter, and thank the Lord for the wonderful, beautiful home He has given us.
This family of 9, yes 9, in their 1 room shack is doing much better today than they were 2 years ago. 2 years ago you would have found them on the streets of Buenos Aires. Living amongst the filth and grime that we brush from our shoes everyday with very little thought. Sleeping in shifts to make sure that no one tried to hurt, rob, or snatch a child away. Filled with worry of where their next meal would come from and how they would simply survive and manage to keep their family together for another day.
In spite of these horrific conditions, the mother became pregnant, and having no other choice, gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl, in a state hospital. Sadly, the baby boy died in the hospital. In the midst of all her grief and pain, along with recovering from the delivery, this woman could not rest. She had to keep a constant vigil over her newborn baby girl for fear that she would be taken away and sold, never to be seen again. You see, this mother is fairly light complected and her husband even more so, allowing their little girl to also be very white. Unfortunately, this is not a good thing when living on the streets. White babies are a very sought after "comodity" down here, and at the time of this baby's birth the mother was offered a lot of money to sell her immediately. She refused and did everything within her power to make sure that her little child was protected from grabby, money greedy hands that looked at her as nothing more than a nice meal ticket.
Due to this traumatic experience and the surmounting stress, she became paralyzed on her right side for many months. Talk about heaping upon her already staggering problems! Somehow this couple, with their 6 children and 1 newborn baby girl at their sides, hung on and were finally offered one of the aforementioned
"palaces" to call their own. The husband told how it had taken him hour after hour of hard labor just to clear the ground of all the weeds and grass. They have slowly, but surely, added to the walls with whatever materials they can find~sticks, wood, cardboard~to provide some shelter and privacy from the outside world. He explained how they lived for months without any electricity and are still {after 2 years} waiting to get running water to their property. Thankfully, recently they have come in contact with a kind neighbor that allows them water from her house.
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| A "House" like this, or worse |
The husband is working hard, doing what he can to provide for his family. He collects cardboard and bottles to sell for a pittance along with any other odd jobs that he can pick up. He's struggling along trying to give his children a better life and care for their needs.
Surprisingly, in spite of all this, they are not bitter only thankful. Thankful to be alive and to be together as a family. Matt said that they have so very little in their "house"; resting upon their dirt floor can be found a refrigerator, small TV, and an old, broken-down, make-shift couch. But, the few things that they have are neat and orderly. The kids' clothes, faces, and hair were NOT matted and sticky and covered in dirty, but rather very clean and combed and presentable. An almost miraculous achievement in these conditions. {I have a hard enough time keeping my 2 little munchkins clean!} Definitely not your typical off-the-street, down-on-their-luck family.
The mother was excited to hear about the possibility of attending church, esp. for her children. She told how she had tried to have them in church, but the churches that they had visited had all since closed their doors. Praise the Lord, now their is a light within reach that they can go to and hear the Good News found in God's Word! That very week 5 of the children were able to attend the junior church program and have been coming faithfully ever since. However, another sad fact of living as they do, is that someone must always be at home. If not, the little that they have will be plundered and stolen. Therefore, they cannot attend church all together, as a family. Another of the many facts of their life that I take for granted everyday. And this is just one story, one of many...
So, I think you can clearly see where my reality check came from. I have Never, EVER, in my whole life even imagined the set of circumstances that they have had to face and live through. I have NEVER had to wonder where my food was going to come from. I have always had a bed to sleep on. My children are tucked up safely in their beds and I do not have to worry and fear that they will not be there in the morning when I wake. I can put my head upon my pillow tonight and rest easy. Hubby at my side, inside of a house complete with electricity, running water, etc. The list goes on, and on, {and on, and on...}. In these days of economical distress, things may be a little tighter {financially} than I would like, but it really just depends on what I am comparing to! I have all my
NEEDS met, and if I am honest, most of my
WANTS, too! I am truly blessed beyond measure!
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| Hubby's Castle {and Mine, too} |
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| ♥ Home Sweet Home ♥ |
