As parents at such a time as this, we must be relevant in our children's world. If we want them to embrace their world and affect change, then we must model it. I continue to be amazed by the passion that young people have today. In this world of social media and instant communication and worldwide understanding, our young people are responding. Their world is within eye shot and ear shot. They can have friends all over the world and never leave their bedroom. My girls have friends in several countries that they met during mission trips. They continue to communicate with them through their computer. Something we could not have done when we were their age.
I have researched this week the KONY2012 campaign. I have read the pros and cons concerning the financial giving surrounding the organization. I have read the stories and watched the video. Twice. Both times my heart ripped in two. The images are terrifying and heart breaking and are designed to invoke a reaction. And it works.
No matter what your opinion is about the way the organization is run or where the money is going, there is a lesson here for our generation. We live in a country where we have a choice. A choice to give to any charity or organization that we choose. A choice to be active in any movement or cause. A choice to voice our opinion about each other. About whether we agree or disagree. About what we think. We also have a choice to just read about this stuff in the comfort of our own homes and we have a choice to actually do something. This organization chose to do something.
Agree or disagree, they are out there. They are active. With a voice. With the media. With action. They are choosing to be the difference. Isn't that what Jesus taught us? To take the gospel into all the world. Last time I checked, the world is much bigger than the United States.
I am not making a stand for this particular organization. In fact, there are several other Christian organizations that I choose to support. But my choice is to give. To act. To stay informed. To make a difference and to encourage my girls to make a difference too. Out there in the world. The real world of flesh and blood. The real people. The real problems. The real messes.
Our children are going to live in the world. The real live messy world. They will see things and hear things that are going to cause them to think. They will have to decide what they believe. Who they believe. And what they are going to do about it. Isn't it our jobs to help them? To teach them. To prepare them to affect change. Didn't Jesus come to set the captive free? To protect the orphans and the widows. To feed the hungry. To clothe the naked. To heal the sick. If we do not model and teach and share with them, there are plenty of voices out there that will. And they will listen. Help them to be informed and to train their ears to hear and their eyes to see. With the mind and the heart of Jesus.
As a parent in this time in history, I want to make sure that my girls understand. That they know Who they are and to Whom they belong. And as hard and scary as it is as a mom, I want them to know that they were born for such a time as this. It is their choice. They can be the hands and feet. And they can make a difference. Open the eyes of our hearts, Jesus.
"Don't think that just because you live in the king's house
you're the one Jew who will get out of this alive.
If you persist in staying silent at a time like this, help and
deliverance will arrive for the Jews from someplace else;
but you and your family will be wiped out. Who knows?
Maybe you were made queen for just such a time as this."
Esther 4:14 the message
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