Thanksgiving in October: Praise for What We Have and Prayer for Those in Need
Today is Blog Action Day 2008, and the topic is poverty. What does poverty have to do with homeschooling?
First, poverty cannot be ignored. According to the National Center for Children, four out of ten American children are growing up in poverty. The World Bank reports that one in four families in developing countries is living in poverty. That is an enormous amount of people directly affected by poverty!
Additionally, poverty leads to death because of hunger and disease. According to Poverty.com, “there is plenty of food in the world for everyone.” We also have vaccinations for many of the diseases that are killing people who cannot afford them. What a tragedy!
As a mother and homeschooler, I want my children to understand how much we as a nation and as an international community are affected by poverty and that we do not have to stand idly by. Our family owns a home, has electricity, and clean water. We are one of the most fortunate families in the world considering that much of the world does not have any of these things. I want my children to understand that they are living a privileged life and feel blessed and thankful. I want my children to feel empowered to do something about poverty, understanding that we can responsibly help the poor improve their quality of life. How can my family do tha?
A service project is one answer. Our church based small group has completed a few service projects in the last couple of years such as hosting a yard sale to benefit our troops, making meals for a local halfway house, and cooking dinners for a local ministry. I think that it energized us to want to serve. I encourage you to look at service opportunities in your community.
There are many mission trips that families can take together both domestically and abroad. There are short term mission trips that last approximately two weeks while others last for a year at a time. I have been on a mission trip myself, and I am thinking about mission trips for my children. I know that seeing first hand what a developing country is like had a huge impact on me, and I know that, one day, that my children will have that same experience.
Lastly, don’t underestimate the power of prayer. Pray for the people who are suffering because of poverty. Please pray for the organizations that are sending relief to the poor. Pray for everyone to take initiative to help those in need. Pray to end poverty. I know that we will.
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