Tears in the library

Yesterday I was in the library working on the manuscript. It is really coming along! I was writing a chapter about Ricco, one of Nyoman and Eka’s boys. The chapter highlights how his child sponsorship came about.

What is wild about this story is I sit in a unique position of knowing both the givers - sponsor family and the beneficiaries – the sponsored child’s family. I believe God placed us in this position so his glory and grace can be magnified through the writing of this novel. There is no other explanation.

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Rewind about 15 or so years ago. A young family from Perth went on a trip to Bali to visit their sponsor child and see the workings of their Compassion program, for themselves. Their own daughter who was very little at the time, maybe just five years old, was profoundly affected when attending a home visit. When she saw that the living conditions were quite different to that of her own, she was so troubled. She pleaded with her parents “please, we have to do something!” Mother and daughter spent several evenings in tears, their hearts heavy with the desire to do more.

The family were already sponsors, that was the purpose for their visit, and had also sponsored other children previously. They had already done something. Something pretty significant really. But as the little girl observed, there was so much more to be done. This little girl, moved with compassion, was the catalyst for Ricco being sponsored. They didn’t go to Bali to sponsor more children, they went to visit the one they were already sponsoring.

Upon seeing photos of more children desperate to be sponsored, her father’s heart was moved with compassion, buoyed by his daughter’s concern, her voice in his mind “please, we have to do something!” He could have cuddled her and said “honey we are already doing something.” But he knew he could do more.

I was so moved by the heart of this child. The empathy in her soul innocently and earnestly voiced to her parents.

Poverty isn’t easily solved. It’s easy to think it’s too hard, there’s too much to be done, sponsoring one child makes little difference. Let me tell you, it makes a difference for that one child. For their family. My tears came as I marvelled at the threads woven in this story. A child moved with compassion. A family that responded to a need. A child who had been bullied and shunned, now chosen. A little boy who’s future looked bleak, now bright.

It’s true, children and young people don’t often know the big picture, but we can sure learn a thing or two from them. They simply see circumstances that are unfair and needs that should be met. Dirty water that should be clean. Hungry tummies that should be full. Emotional and physical wounds that should be healed.

May we have eyes like a child “we have to do something.”

May we respond like the parents “yes we can do more.”

May we be like Jesus. After all, it’s what he would do… right?

Blessings to you all.