It's been a while since I've posted, especially about a book. I'll admit, I sort of took a hiatus from reading...don't get me wrong...I still read books but I wasn't reading 14 books at one time! Crazy, I know! But I'm getting back on the reading bandwagon and that always makes me very excited!
Last week I finished one of several books on my 2012 reading list. "Kisses from Katie". Have you heard of it? Have you read it? If you haven't read it, I definitely recommend it. As I read about this young girl who lives in Uganda, caring for 14 children in her home and seeing to the needs of so many more in her community, my heart was challenged. This girl has gone to the other side of the world and is caring for orphans and widows, the poor and the needy. She has sacrificed so much in order to accomplish this one thing...to share the love of Christ with others.
It's easy for me to quickly be stirred in my heart to run to Africa to help the needy, the poor, the orphans, the sick. It seems to valiant and courageous and adventuresome to want to go clear across the world to help a needy people. But then I stop in my tracks and I realize that I can do the same thing right where I am. There are widows I know that need a hug, a meal prepared, a smile....widows that need to know they are loved. There are orphans I know...the ones whose parents have passed away and they feel alone...these orphans need a hug, a meal, a smile...they need to know they are loved. There are ones around me that are needy and poor and sick...all ones who need a hug, a meal, a smile...they need to know they are loved.
I am surrounded by ones who need love..practical love shown to them. I am an extension of my Heavenly Father...I am extension of the One who is Love. Am I looking for ways to show the love of my Father to all those I see? AM I even taking the time to see the people around me and their needs? Or am I too busy looking for the more adventuresome thing to do? Am I too busy doing my own thing that I miss the needy people right under my nose?
"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself usntained from the world." James 1:27
Maybe one day, the Lord will take me to Africa to share His love but right now He has placed me in the good ole US of A and so I choose to be a light of my Father's love right where He has placed me for today.
**PS...if you are interested, you can visit Katie's Blog Here.
