Chelsea's friend Vanessa is French – Filipino. Vanessa's mother's family lives in the area that was struck the hardest by the typhoon. Since the typhoon hit, Vanessa's family has had no news except that 95 percent of the area has been destroyed.
Can you imagine hearing that? Seeing the images on TV and not knowing if your family is well or not? The unbearable waiting! Knowing that if something can be done, it must be done sooner than later. Vanessa and her family, with many other, have only hope against the barrage of images and news telling them there is little.
Waiting, when every cell wants to do something. It is a hard thing to understand. To have the means to help, to have all that we have, and yet not be able to do much.
It is in times like these that I wonder what I can do? How can I change or aid the outcome? Do prayers bring miracles? And then I recall that many of you supported me with your faithful friendship when my father was suffering. Many of you had lost someone or were losing someone at the same time. I read and re-read your comments like a healing balm, like prayer bread, like arms holding me when I was so terribly broken. Your love brought healing. Brought courage, gave me a light to follow in the sadness.
In the wake of the suffering, we see happening in the Philippines many of us wonder what we can do, how we can give, how can we really help at such a distance? Will donations go to those in need?
The image of Mother Therese feeding a dying baby in India while reporters pestered her with comments such as: "You cannot save the dying! You are only one person! Look at you, caring for one baby in the sea of many dying people. What you are doing won't change the outcome…" As they threw their frustration and anger towards her, Mother Therese focused on the baby in her arms. She offered, "Look how he takes the bottle, look how he looks into my eyes, look how he is eating…" She focused on hope. She stood in the sea of suffering doing what she could: A small stone cast causes ripples. Those ripples spread forth regardless of what it will run into.
Casting our stone is a daily choice.
We might not be able to save the world or help those in need in another country or place. But we can love and encourage each other every day where we are. The rippling effect. A small do-able gesture that has an impact.
(Photo Via Vanessa. Far Right hand corner.)
Please pray with me, and or send courage filled thoughts for Vanessa's family and others who are one of many in the Philippines. If you know of a charity that could help please list it.
xx
Leave a Reply