compassion Archives - Home With The Boys

When I Think This Mom Gig is Hard…

May 9, 2013 By Erin 6 Comments

I know it’s all about perspective, but let’s take a little look at a few of the “harder” things about my past week as a mom…

A teething baby
Needing to take multiple trips to the grocery store because these boys eat a lot and we’re always running out of those favorite foods
Following through with consequences EVERY TIME someone is disobedient or disrespectful
Juggling meals and bedtime when we have activities three nights a week and The Hubby is on the night shift

Your list may look very similar to mine or very, very different. Sometimes these things can seem like the end of the world in the moment, right, moms? Any number of factors can amplify each problem to make stress levels soar. But when I wrote down these rough patches from my week, I realized pretty quickly how normal these problems are to most families. And how small they are on the “big problem” scale.

Now, this mothering job is not the place to get in to a comparison game. Your stress and my stress as moms will not be the same. Even our own tough situations may change from week to week. If you think that “thing” in your life is hard and trying and stressful, then it IS.

Comparison is not our friend on this motherhood journey, but perspective can be.

I stepped out of the house yesterday to get the mail, which is part of a group mailbox up the street from our house. The uphill walk to the mailbox is not far and not too steep.I was thankful for a break in the rain and a little fresh air. I was also pretty thankful to have a minute of quiet {keeping it real}.

My mind was on food. I had just added milk, cheese, and apples to my grocery list AGAIN. Didn’t I just buy all of those things two days ago?! As I reluctantly planned out another trip to Hy-Vee, I was captured by the thought of Samson’s mom.

No, not Samson from the Bible. Samson, our Compassion child in Tanzania.

I’ve never met his mom. I’ve never talked to his mom. I only know about her the few general facts in Samson’s Compassion profile and a mention or two from Samson himself – he’s a 7-year-old boy writing to people in a different country so there’s not a whole lot of detail {but his drawings are lovely}!

I know Samson’s mom and dad live with him. Both parents are “sometimes employed” as farmers. These things are a blessing in themselves, but as I was walking to the mailbox, I thought about the logistical blessings I enjoy as a mom – and usually take for granted.

When someone utters the phrase “nothing to eat” in our house, I need only hop in the van and drive less than five minutes to a grocery store to remedy that problem. And “nothing to eat” never actually means “nothing.”

What does Samson’s mom do when there is nothing to eat? Where does she go? How far does she have to walk? Do they have the means to restock food when they need to?

Loading up all three kids and taking them to the grocery store isn’t as bad as we make out to be when I ponder what women in poverty must deal with when there is nothing to eat. ACTUALLY nothing to eat. Grocery store trips are a blessing.

The ability to buy and make the food we need whenever we need it has been taken for granted and replaced with disdain for grocery store trips and meal planning. I’ve lamented the fact that my boys are “always hungry” but hardly ever stop to consider how I would feel if they were hungry – little-food-in-days hungry, malnourished, starving…

My mom heart can hardly stand that suffocating thought. I walked back with several envelopes and packages in my hand and opened the door to find The Hubby had given our boys an afternoon snack. I thanked God for His provision and prayed the same for Samson and his family.

And I said a special prayer for Samson’s mom…that she would know God’s love for her…that she would know He cares about her and her family…that she would know He is with her through the good and the bad…and then I asked the Holy Spirit to fill in the prayers I don’t even know to pray for her…

In His Divine Goodness, He brought this photo to mind…

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I had forgotten I had this picture of her. The goat was our Christmas gift to their family that year through Compassion. I cried all over again at the smile on her face, the way she is looking at Samson, the picture of a loving mother who has been given a gift that will help provide nourishment for her family.

I need this perspective held close to my heart. I’m keeping this picture taped to the side of my fridge, especially for those times when the kids ask for a snack for the gazillionth time or I start to dread yet another trip to the grocery store.

This mom gig IS hard – for all of us – but I know when our next meal is coming. And this Mother’s Day, as I thank God for my own mom and other mothers in my life, I will also be praying for each mom who feels the extra weight of knowing her children’s basic needs are not being met…

Lord, You know each and every mom’s heart, from here in Nebraska to Tanzania and beyond. You have blessed us with children as a gift from You and entrusted them to us as part of Your Divine Plan. Thank You for each and every child. Help us to view our children as gifts, even on the hard days, and give us guidance to mother them well. Come alongside us in our everyday, whether it be carpooling and laundry folding or walking to market and drawing water from a well. Renew our strength and calm our hearts when the baby won’t stop crying and the food has run out and the day just won’t seem to end. You are our safe place, our refreshing spring, our Strong Deliverer. Thank you for the blessing of being a mom and turn our hearts always toward You as we walk this motherhood path. We love you, Lord, and lift up the needs of every mama today, especially the ones only You know… In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I hope you will join me in praying for moms raising children in extreme poverty, but could we also do something tangible to help them?

We can honor and support mothers who are living in poverty, through support of a Compassion Child Survival Program.

The Child Survival Program helps save the lives of babies and mothers in poverty by utilizing local churches to assist mothers of at-risk infants and toddlers. Mothers can give their children a fighting chance for healthy development with the supplies and training provided by the donations to this program.

Please consider making a one-time Mother’s Day donation or signing up for ongoing support of a Child Survival Program. We may not ever physically walk with these moms, speaking words of encouragement and understanding as we go, but our financial support can be just as powerful a blessing.

Happy Mother’s Day, Samson’s mom and all moms. You are doing God’s work and you are loved.

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Filed Under: compassion, motherhood, prayer

The Repentant Mosquito {A Story for World Malaria Day}

April 25, 2013 By Erin 2 Comments

This post was co-written with my eldest son, Big J, who will turn 7 this Saturday, which doesn’t even seem possible. It was a blessing to share this experience with him, brainstorming and storytelling and hoping to make a difference. I think we shall do this “writing blog posts together” thing more often as a part of homeschool language arts

The Repentant Mosquito

My name is Mooski. I lived in Tanzania at the time of my conversion. My buddies, Mesquite, Mason, and I hung around the crowded parts of the village. If we got swatted away by one person, there were lots of other humans to choose from. It was blood-sucking heaven.

After biting and feasting, we would head to the outskirts of town to rest. Life was pretty good. We were doing the only thing we knew how to do to survive.

Then my eyes were opened to a whole different side of life…

It was a normal Thursday evening. We liked to venture out for a “meal” as evening came because we were harder to spot in the darkness. Instead of a crowded marketplace, I made my way into a home. I found four people – a mother and three children – in that home and I went about my business of feeding myself.

But as I flew around, I noticed a very sick little boy and overheard a conversation that changed my life…

“If only we had access to those nets – the ones that keep the mosquitos away. He would have never been sick. He would still be laughing and playing. The malaria has taken that life from him.”

They were talking about me! I was making people sick and I didn’t even know it! I thought I was just getting a meal!

It was such a sad scene. And it was all because of me and my kind. Now every time I flew by a human, I could only think of that sick, dying little boy and suddenly, blood wasn’t so appealing anymore.

I left that human-biting world over 6 years ago now for a life feasting among the flowers. I’ve shared my story with other mosquitos and, together, we’re on a mission to do our part to stop the spread of malaria. Now won’t you join us?

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Today is World Malaria Day.

Big J and I first learned about malaria together when we raised money for Nickels for Nets.

Compassion International is doing great things to stop the spread of malaria through their Malaria Intervention Initiative. I could hardly contain my emotion as Big J and I read that a child dies every 30 seconds from this preventable, treatable disease.

There are lots of ways to help, but we love that Compassion attacks malaria in three ways: prevention, education, and treatment. A $20 donation to the Malaria Intervention Initiative will provide two treated mosquito bed nets for at-risk children.

On this World Malaria Day, say a prayer. Give a little. Give a lot. Spread the word.

Just do something and let’s end this disease together.

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Filed Under: big j, compassion, make a difference

I Can’t Make My Kids Care

March 4, 2013 By Erin 6 Comments

I want to teach my kids to be compassionate.

I’ve said it before but I’m not sure I totally agree with this statement anymore, since what I used to mean when I said that was…

I want to make my kids be compassionate.

You see, I’ve come to realize that I can’t MAKE my kids care about something.

Just like I can’t MAKE them like broccoli or MAKE them love that old movie I adore.

I Can't Make My Kids Care

{No, I did not MAKE them hug for this picture! Pure moment of brotherly love for the win!}

This realization was REALLY frustrating to me at first:

I’m the parent, right?! I can’t MAKE them feel love or mercy or compassion for someone else?!

After a few times trying to force them to get on board with charity projects I wanted to do, I have learned to take a different approach to this whole “teach them compassion” thing.

What I CAN do is two-fold:

Show them that I care.
Give them the tools to jump into action when they DO care!

This has taken a LOT of pressure off of me and actually created more opportunities for the boys to grow in compassion!

So, what does this look like?

Show them that I care.

There is great power in a parent’s example. I remember trying over and over to “teach” Double J {our youngest} to clap and he wanted nothing to do with being forced to do it. Fast forward a few weeks and he notice one of us clapping at something and joined in! He didn’t want to be made to do anything, but he did want to mimic what Daddy and Mommy were doing!

When we decided to sponsor a child through Compassion, I actually didn’t involve the boys in the process of picking a child. At the time, they were still young and the details were not important to them. So I picked a child I felt drawn to – his precious face and March 17th birthday the same year as Big J told me he was ours right away

When Samson’s picture arrived, I told the boys about him and where he lived and tried to get them excited about writing to him. They didn’t “get” it yet. They drew something because I told them to, but I knew their hearts weren’t really in it.

At that point I decided I would keep his picture where we all could see it, pray for him when I prayed for the boys, write letters, and read his letters out loud when they came, but wait for them to gain interest in their own time.

And the boys did start to be interested in him. Big J would be working on his Scripture handwriting sheets and decide he wanted to send it Samson. Little J was making Christmas cards for grandparents and asked if he could make one for Samson, too. Their care and love for Samson didn’t come through forced activities. It developed over time as they saw The Hubby and I caring for him through our prayers and words.

As parents, our example of compassion, mercy, and love for those in need goes much further than anything we could MAKE our children do. It may take longer than you like, but genuine compassion is much better than forced compassion!

Give them the tools to jump into action when they DO care!

Eventually, there will be a cause or person in need that catches your child’s attention. For Big J, it was the children who didn’t have beds or safe places to sleep. When he brought it up, I was ready with the question:

“Would you like to try to help them?”

When he answered yes, I got on board with him and we found a way to do something for those kids!

Keep your ears open for the things your children say that show they are wanting to help someone and be a ready to help them out!

Nickels for Nets flier

If they want to raise money for an organization, help rally friends and family to collect money like we did with Nickels for Nets, but let them do most of the asking, counting, etc. so they hold on to ownership of the project! I made the flier above on the computer, but Big J handed them out and told people what he was raising money for, as well as counting the money himself!

If they notice a friend who needs some encouragement, have some cards ready they can use to write their friend a note! Dayspring has these totally awesome U-NEEK cards just for kids that include messages of encouragement, friendship, prayer, love, and more.

Be willing to search for charities or programs that help the people your child is interested in helping!

Let your children know you are willing to commit family resources – such as time and money – to support something about which they feel passionately!

Side note: I do think it is okay to require all family members to participate {with a good attitude} in a cause that one family member feels is important because it fosters the “team” atmosphere of the family, but it is also important to not get frustrated if the other family members don’t get all excited over that one person’s cause!

Taking the “model and equip” approach has produced greater results in the compassion and service area of our children’s hearts than anything we could have ever MADE them do!

What is your experience with kids and compassion? What causes have your children shown interest in? Which of these steps would you like to work on in your home this year?

*This post contains affiliate links.

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Filed Under: compassion, kiddos, parenting, service

Christmas with Compassion: It’s About Giving!

December 20, 2012 By Erin 2 Comments

You heard a whole lot about Compassion from me back in September, and WOW, that Compassion Bloggers Month made a HUGE impact! So many children sponsored – my heart just sings thinking about it!

And now here we are, in the middle of the Christmas, shopping for family, baking for parties, sending cards to friends…

What about those kids? Can’t we find a little time and generosity for them now to help them meet basic needs?

Believe me, the LAST thing I want to be doing is asking people for money, but I believe in this, friends. And Compassion has made it really easy to bless this Christmas through their Christmas Gift Catalog!

Here’s the deal: I want to challenge you, my friends, as a group, to give $100 {or more} through the Compassion Gift Catalog!

Compassion is working towards a $20,000 Gift Catalog goal and we can do our part if just TEN of us donate $10!

What can your $10 do for someone in need?

Help to protect 2+ children from parasites
Garden seeds for a family in Africa

Or maybe FIVE of you will give $20? For $20 you could…

Protect five children from parasites
Provide a Christmas gift for a mom and baby

There are gift options for EVERY budget – from $4 to $150 – and giving whatever you can is exactly what Jesus asks us to do!

Will you join us in meeting these needs and reaching this goal through the gift catalog? If you donate, would you leave a comment or email me at homewiththeboys at gmail dot com {I will keep names and amounts anonymous!} so we can keep track of our total?

I’m praying over this goal right now, believing God gave the folks at Compassion a vision and a mission and He wants to use all of us to help them reach it! And let’s see if we can meet our goal here by the end of today {Thursday}!

And I have one more opportunity for you to partner with Compassion through Home with the Boys!

Our sponsored child, Samson, is only our sponsored child because of the wonderful individuals and companies who advertise here on our site. I am so grateful for all who have bought sidebar ads throughout the last few years to help support our sponsorship of Samson!

Sidebar ads are only $10 per month and, based on the increase in traffic we’ve been getting lately, that is a steal of a deal! We’re keeping the prices the same because that is the number I feel God gave me and we know this is all from Him!

Looking ahead, I would love to see twelve companies partner with Home with the Boys for four months of advertising in 2013 so we can have the whole year covered in advance!

If you are interested in being one of these twelve partners or doing any advertising at all, please email me at homewiththeboys at gmail dot com to reserve your spot! I only offer four spots per month and will fill them on a first-come, first-serve basis!

Thank you for supporting such an amazing ministry alongside us!

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Filed Under: Christmas, compassion

Samson Teaches Us About Tanzania

September 30, 2012 By Erin Leave a Comment

Samson, our Compassion sponsored child, is six years old – the same age as Big J. Big J and I are starting to have great conversations about all sorts of topics – I can only imagine what discussions I could have with Samson right now. We receive sweet letters from him, but I’m sure there would be so much more if we could sit down and chat.

We have learned so much about Tanzania because of Samson and today “he” is blogging to pass this knowledge on to you! Please pray for the children of Tanzania as you read this…

{Photos were taken at the Compassion Experience display at the dotMOM Conference. Very humbling to get even a glimpse…}

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Jambo from the plains of Tanzania! {That is hello in Kiswahili, our native language.}

My name is Samson. In this dry, flat land, I live with my mom and dad in a small home.

The floors are dirt. The walls are mud. The roof is tin. It is a place to sleep and for that I am thankful.

My parents sometimes work as farmers. Their income is about $12 a month, but jobs are quite scarce in this area. We are in desperate need of more job training and modern farming advances, as well as schools and teachers.

Our diet consists of maize, beans, fish, cassava, beef, rice, and potatoes. I help in the kitchen and bring water from the well to help my family. Our water supply is poor and we pray often for more clean water in our community.

I see lots of sick people, so I am thankful for the health of my family. Malaria, diarrhea, and HIV/AIDS are common health problems. We get checkups at the Compassion Student Center to make sure we stay healthy.

I also go to school and Bible classes at the Compassion center. This is also where I learned about my sponsors. They have a six-year-old in their family just like me!

It sounds like Big J and I have a lot of the same interests, especially soccer and reading. I would love to do those things with him someday. I think about about meeting him and his family a lot.

I like to draw pictures to send to my sponsor’s family. Big J sends me colored pages with Bible verses on them. I like to hang them in my home.

Big J and I also both love Jesus. I pray for him and his family and their letters say they pray for me as well.

Compassion introduced me to my sponsor, to hope, and most importantly, to Jesus. I don’t even know in all the ways this will change my life, but things are definitely look brighter for my future.

*****

I was blessed to hear a former Compassion child tell her story at dotMOM last weekend. There were very few dry eyes listening to her speak. And now her and her family are sponsoring a child through Compassion.

You never know how much your sponsorship will change the life of a child in poverty for the long run AND for eternity.

This is the last day to sponsor a child during Blog Month and help reach the goal of 3,108 children sponsored in September! Maybe a child from Tanzania is on your heart?

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Filed Under: compassion

Pin and Party with Compassion International!

September 20, 2012 By Erin Leave a Comment

As you all know, it’s Blog Month with Compassion International, and this week there is a whole lot of fun going on to celebrate!

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First, Compassion is holding a contest for all of you on Pinterest! I super duper love Pinterest and I’m thrilled it’s being used for a good cause in this case!

This contest will involve you creating a board on Pinterest called “My Sponsored Child,” filling it with images and links to go with the theme, and trying to get as many repins as possible!

If you’re not on Pinterest yet, this will all sound like jibberish, but it is great fun, I promise!

To get started on the contest, read this post for all of the details and start pinning!

{You can check out my board here for ideas!}

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Secondly, there is an actual Compassion Blog Month PARTY going on tonight, Thursday, September 20th! I wish I could say it was going to be in person with all of you lovely people, but instead it is a Twitter party!

Here are all the details you will need to join the festivities:

WHERE: Sign into Twitter (https://twitter.com) to join the conversation. If you do not have a twitter account, you can create one.

WHEN: Thursday, September 20, 7:00PM Eastern

WHO: Tanzania Blogger Amy Lupold Bair (@ResourcefulMom) is hosting this event. She will be chatting with Shaun Groves (@shaungroves)! Be sure to follow Amy and Shaun on Twitter!

HOW: Follow the hashtag #CompassionBloggers on Twitter. TweetChat (http://tweetchat.com/) is also a great way to follow the conversation.

Everyone who participates by asking a question or making a comment with the hashtag #CompassionBloggers has the chance to win some great prizes.

For more information check out: resourcefulmommy.com.

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The number of children being sponsored because of Blog Month is just incredible! Thank you to all who have been sharing these posts, praying for the ministry, and sponsoring children! YOU are rescuing children from poverty in the name of Jesus and it is beautiful!

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Filed Under: compassion

Dear God…

September 13, 2012 By Erin 2 Comments

Dear God,

You really know how to get to me, don’t You?

I might be an impulsive person in most things, but when it comes to acting on something from You, I’m a little slow. And stubborn. I require lots of chipping away. Lots of not-so-subtle hints and reminders.

And that’s what you’ve been doing to me over the past few years.

I think it started with Kristen and her trip to Kenya. Then MckMama’s posts about that trip as well. And Lisa-Jo followed soon after that.

You opened my eyes to things I did not want to know about. I really wasn’t in that place of wanting You to “break my heart for what breaks Yours.”

But You got me there somehow. You used bloggers and their trips over and over again to show me beauty and hope amongst severe poverty and desolation.

I didn’t think those things could possibly exist together.

But they do because of You.

How can those children smile when they sleep on a dirt floor?

Because they know You love them.

How can that mother give her children the only food they have for that day and go hungry herself, yet still praise You?

Because she trusts You with everything she has.

God, forgive me me for having all that I could ever need or want and more and not trusting you with every part of it.

And thank you for continuing to chip away at my tendency to look the other way when the poor and marginalized were mentioned.

I see it now. I see that I do have a place in all of this.

Even when I can’t seem to keep up on the laundry or stay patient with my children or spend enough time with You…

You can still use me.

Thank You for bringing sweet Samson into our lives. Thank You for opening the hearts of our family to love this handsome boy in Tanzania whom we have never met. Thank You for the discussions that have occurred in our home since he became a part of our life. One boy half a world away has changed our lives.

I see that sponsoring Samson was just the first step You wanted us to take. When You unlocked this part of my heart, the “ignorance is bliss” way of life could be no more.

I cry at almost every Compassion blogger post I read, but I don’t feel hopeless for those kids anymore. I know You are with them and they just need us to step into action to be Your hands and feet.

Lord, take our broken and willing hearts and move us into action for these beautiful children.

And thanks for never giving up on me and continuing to patiently chip away at my stubborn heart, even now…

With gratitude and love and praise,

Erin

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I wrote this post as part of Blog Month for Compassion International. We’re writing and praying and expecting for God to move in hearts to see 3,108 children sponsored this month. 837 have already been sponsored which means only 2,271 to go! Have you taken a look at the children needing sponsorship lately?

And if you already sponsor a child, join us this Friday {and every second Friday of the month} for an online letter-writing party!

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Filed Under: compassion

Geography with a Greater Purpose

September 4, 2012 By Erin 7 Comments

We’re taking on a new geography lesson this week and I thought you might like to join us!

This lesson is very easy, requires very little prep work, and will be a blessing to many children all over the world!

Sound good?!

Here is what you need:

*A globe or world map

*Your computer

*A notebook or piece of paper and pencil

That’s it!

And here’s what we will be doing if you want to follow our plan…

*Each day, click over to the Compassion Sponsor a Child page. On this page, you will find children from countries all over the world waiting to be sponsored.

*Pick the first four children on the list for that day and write down their names and their country. If you want, you can keep a running list for the week so you don’t repeat countries. Or you can just choose the first four each day and review a country if it repeats!

*Click on the “Learn More” link below each child’s picture to read about their family, daily life, special needs, and more.This will give you and you children great opportunity for discussion about living conditions in different parts of the world.

**Special note: Each time you refresh the Sponsor a Child page, the list will look different. You can remember the names and countries and try to find those children again OR you can read the “Learn More” about one child and then pick another one when you go back to the main Sponsor a Child page!

*Find the countries on the map or globe. Find where you live on the map or globe. Calculate the distance between your locations. Talk about continents or hemispheres or anything geographically appropriate to the age of your children!

*Pray for each child by name. Pray for their health, their family, their education, their faith, and most of all, for them to be sponsored.

This verse will be a central verse we pray to the Lord for these children AND for us as we strive to love others more like Jesus…

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. ~Psalm 82:3-4

We have done this in a less structured format in the past and I have always been so blessed by the conversations it has opened up with my boys. It is so important for us to help them see outside of themselves and get a bigger picture of our world.

I hope you’ll join us!

And what if we share our prayer lists for each day here? I would love to know the names you are praying over each day with your children so we can lift them up as well! Just leave the name and country in the comments below each day this week! I will add ours as well!

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While I’m not asking you to sponsor children in this post – just pray for them – if the Lord draws you to a certain child, won’t you consider sponsorship? Compassion Bloggers {including myself} are partnering together this month to raise awareness and see 3,108 children sponsored in September! Maybe one of those will be sponsored by you!

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Would you consider sharing this post with your friends as well? Let’s gather our kids together, expand their worldview, and cover these precious children in prayer! I can’t wait to see what the Lord does! Tweet it, Facebook it, blog about it, Pin it – just link back to this post to let them know what we’re doing together!

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Filed Under: compassion, kiddos, make a difference, prayer

Processing “7″

August 28, 2012 By Erin 2 Comments

I’m reading the book 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker right now.

I laugh out loud reading it in the middle of the night feeding Double J. Seriously – that Jen is one funny gal.

But this book is messing with me as well. If the book wasn’t so funny, I would be locked in my room, in a puddle of tears, unable to move because it has made me confront a lot of uncomfortable things.

Poverty.

Our life of excess here in America.

My own selfishness and self-centeredness.

Blech. Blech. Blech.

I want things to change. I want to be part of the change. I want to live my life differently than the “world.”

The trouble is I just don’t even know where to begin.

Remember that post I wrote about being in mom survival mode? I’m there. Just figuring out how to get through a day homeschooling two boys and taking care of a baby. Trying to not let the laundry pile get too high {which I’ve failed at miserably this week}. Attempting to have even an ounce of energy or time left for The Hubby at the end of the day {another big failure lately}.

I’m so stuck in this mindset of making it through the day, I can’t even move towards helping the marginalized in our society. I feel paralyzed.

Despite my lack of action, I AM thinking and praying. The poor, the orphans, the widows…they are on my mind and my heart. And they are making their way into many conversations between the boys and I.

A story about children without beds in Kenya comes on the radio and Big J wants to know, “Do they REALLY not have beds?” I take the time to talk with him about these children – about their living conditions, how he feels about what he is hearing, how he would like to help them. We get so deep in conversation, I miss my turn to the Bible study we’re headed to and I’m ten minutes late.

Totally worth it.

Tropical Storm Isaac heads toward Haiti. I hear that 400,000 people are still living in tents after the earthquake that hit TWO years ago. We get out a globe and find Haiti. We pray that the storm will miss them. Big J decides those 400,000 people should move into the new houses being built across the street from us. I hold back tears, moved by his desire to help.

And I know – this is what I can do now. I can do my part by raising children who are aware that life is not the same for everyone around the world. I can nurture those desires they have to serve and give to others. And we can help others side-by-side in the name of Jesus.

There ARE things Jesus wants me to do – things I need to eliminate or re-prioritize in my life and things to change about how we live – but those things aren’t completely clear to me as I write this. He is stirring me. I will continue to pray and seek His will and let Him know…

I am willing. Lord, use me according to Your purpose.

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One other thing I can do is share my heart here with you. September is Blog Month with Compassion. I’ll be sharing more with you about Compassion each week as will many other bloggers, all with one goal:

To see 3,108 children sponsored between Sept. 1 and Sept. 30.

If even one child is sponsored because of something I posted here, I will be humbled to have been used by God to help that one precious child.

And you can join Blog Month as well – just join the Compassion Blogger Network by clicking on the widget over there on the left! If you have a blog, you have an opportunity to make a difference by using your platform to save children from poverty!

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If you want to read and process 7 with a lovely bunch of women, the (in)courage Bloom Book Club is reading through it RIGHT NOW! Get all the details on the Bloom page and start reading – you will not regret it!

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Filed Under: compassion, faith, family, make a difference, motherhood, priorities, service

Speaking for Samson {Why I Blog About Compassion}

August 10, 2012 By Erin Leave a Comment

I don’t talk about him enough here.

We have a fourth boy we love in this household, but he’s not here with us.

Samson is WAY over there {as the boys would say} in Tanzania, but he is always close in our hearts.

We cheered for Tanzania as their six athletes walked in the Parade of Nations at the Opening Ceremonies. We colored their flag and listened to their national anthem and have watched every event possible just waiting for the flag of Tanzania to show up {which wasn’t very often!}.

{We’re sending this picture to Samson with our next letter!}

I love that my boys are becoming aware of other parts of the world through this, but even more so, they have discovered that not everyone lives the way we do.

In our last letter from Samson, he mentioned one of his favorite activities was getting water from the well. Big J instantly remembered our previous conversation about Samson’s water. “That’s how he helps his family because they don’t have water in the house!” he exclaimed. And then we had another opportunity to discuss what life is like for Samson – how completely different his life is from ours. And how he still seems so joyful despite the poverty he lives in.

That is why I want to talk about it more here as well. Just so you know. There are so many children living in poverty and they need a voice.

Compassion does such an amazing job partnering with bloggers to help children all over the world, both financially and with the love of Jesus. Bloggers aren’t more special than anyone else – we just have an audience already in place. And knowing what I know about the lives of these children, I know that I must share that there are ways you can help:

Sponsor a Child in Jesus Name with Compassion

Help a Child

1. You can sponsor a child. $38 a month changes the life of a child, but it will totally change your life, too.

2. You can purchase an ad here on Home with the Boys to help sponsor Samson! All 125×125 sidebar ads are just $10 a month and all of that goes to our monthly sponsorship of Samson! Email me at homewiththeboys at gmail dot com for more info!

3. If you have a blog, you can blog about Compassion {like I’m doing right now}! The Compassion Bloggers website is all new and totally awesome. You can find all the resources and information you need to share Compassion with your readers, including stories and banners and links to other Compassion bloggers!

4. Pray for these children and for the ministry of Compassion! Sign up to be a prayer partner with Compassion and get updated prayer requests through email.

Can I just say one last thing? My posts about Samson and Compassion and the posts of other Compassion bloggers are not about guilt trips. It’s just a case of needing to share the information we have in order to help the “least of these.”

“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’ -Matthew 25:37-40 {The Message}

Do what YOU can when YOU can, but be open to God calling you to step out and make a difference for one {or more} of these beautiful children. I had been reading Compassion blogger trip posts for a long time and felt very moved, but we didn’t start sponsoring Samson until we knew it was the right time for US. In the meantime, I prayed. And God moves mightily in those times.

Now, if you already sponsor a child or have decided to sponsor one today, you MUST go check out “Impress Your Sponsored Kids,” a monthly post and link-up over at Impress Your Kids, for amazing ideas of how to bless your sponsored child!

Do you already sponsor a child? Are you praying for a way to make it happen? I would love to hear your stories about Compassion as well!

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Filed Under: compassion