The barbed wire was shabby, hanging twisted and low.
The little one was maybe two years old, or younger. She was naked her under her dirty dress. She climbed through the barbed wire to use the bathroom in the field.
On her way back she got caught in the barbed wire and it wrapped around her ankle, leaving a jagged open gash.
All of the women in our group started scrounging in our backpacks for bandaids.
Wipes.
Anything.
There wasn’t a band aid big enough to heal what was wrong with this scene.
Do you ever get overwhelmed by all the wrong in the world?
Just yesterday I was listening to the radio. There was a news report over a band of “morality police” in the middle east who severly punish women whose hair peeks out from under their burka.
Then another report about a toddler left outside while a mother partied inside.
One after another. Abuse. Chaos. War. Politics gone amok.
I had to turn it off. It was too much.
What’s wrong with us, God?
That’s the question I asked.
What’s wrong with us that we hurt each other in the name of religion?
What’s wrong with us that there are people in the world who oppress women, and let babies go hungry, and with a world that allows tiny little girls walk around half-naked with bug bites and a hungry belly and open wounds from barbed wire?
And why are we talking so much and doing so little?
That’s not a fair statement and I know it. There are lots of people doing good. I witnessed that over and over again these past 10 days.
It’s just that it’s overwhelming and I want to fix it all and I can’t.
I.just.can’t.
I’m sorry if this sounds like a downer blog, especially on a #livefreeThursday.
I’m just being honest about how it hit me this week.
But then I remembered a conversation with my really great friend, Amy Carroll.
She reminded me that justice is generational. We aren’t able to change or fix the world, but we can show up for our assignment.
When we love one person in His name, we become part of a miracle
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One is impacted, and that life touches someone else, and so on.
It’s a ripple effect.
We won’t know until eternity how wide those ripple effects really are.
Last week I wanted to scoop up that little girl with no diaper and a gaping wound, and whisk her into my arms and take her home.
That wasn’t an option.
Praying for her is.
Investing in a ministry that is reaching little ones like her is another option.
Asking God to show me one person, one action, one response to injustice — that’s another.
Speaking up, and then doing something about it — yet another option.
What miracle is God asking you to participate in? What might happen if we all show up for our assignment of “one?”
Justice is generational. That’s profound. My blog this week and last was also about our opportunities as Christians to be light. I feel like I could just burst sometimes Suzie. It wells up and I feel indignant at the face we Christians are showing to the world…so counter to the reality of our loving, yet just God. This isn’t a downer blog this week, it’s real. I’m thankful that you showed your real side – it’s really easy as bloggers to only show the pretty, flowery side of life and scripture. I suspect that most people limping to Jesus aren’t feeling particularly pretty or flowery 😉 Thank you for making me think this morning…and giving hope that planting seeds in this generation will multiply the blooms of the future.
Justice is generational…. oh, my that is profound. That is deep and that is good. I am going to be chewing on that a while, Suzanne. Thanks for reminding us also of the need to pray, the importance of fighting and contending for the true, the good, and the lovely.
Blessings,
Dawn
Suzie, I am also overwhelmed daily with what to do to bring relief to this hurting world. I continue to hear Jesus say, “Be my hands and feet.” I go where the Holy Spirit leads & do what He says. God has given me so many opportunities to love others, give them hope, & introduce them to my Jesus. There is a book, One Smile, that I always loved reading to my first grade students. It exemplifies the thoughts you shared in your blog today. One act of kindness exhilarating us and encouraging the recipient to pass on the love ends up coming full circle and could only be from God. We need only answer God’s call. Thank you for your faithfulness. ❤
“Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14b
I’ve only been overseas for missions twice but each time the enormity of need hit me unbelievably hard. Sometimes it can be so overwhelming I’m tempted to think my “little” can’t possibly make a difference. I had never thought about what I can do this day as generational justice. I love that thought! What a powerful perspective. Thank you for being real Suzie. Prayers for you, the little girl with the barb-wire cut, and our generation. May we Serve. Him. Well!
I love reading your honest, raw heart in this. And I know God loves it, too. We need to remember that God sees the suffering, the hurting, the injustices, the lost. He grieves for them – and He also hears our prayers. Through the sufferings of the world, His name is called upon and His mercy is sought. If we had no suffering, I fear we wouldn’t realize our need for Him nearly enough. A self-sufficient world sees no need for God. But when we see the depravity of humanity, the needs of the poor, the suffering of the innocent – we cry out to Him, we see our great need for Him, we serve Him more faithfully, we see our insufficiency and His greatness. So keep your heart tender and let it break. God does great things through a broken heart fixed on serving Him. ❤️
Wow! I love your words. They are so very true.💖
Suzie, my goodness! I can’t even imagine the things you saw! I often feel the same way when I see neglect, abuse and extreme poverty. My heart wants to get rid of it all, but my mind knows that’s not possible. I love your reminder…we can do something- we can play a small part in changing things for the next generation. Sometimes it’s so hard to see past the details of this hurting world! I pray that God continue to show us the big picture, His picture. I pray He continues to show us our small parts in His big plan! Thank you for sharing this with us today.
I’ll confess to the same heaviness of heart coming into this Thursday, and your friend’s reminder to become part of the miracle is such a hopeful thought. I’m seeing Romans 1 judgment all around us, and then being reminded that when God is on the move, sometimes things look messy to us. May He move in each of us, making us part of His miracle.
Just one. If we can be the hands and feet of Jesus to just one. Yes, it’s cyclical! That one, will be His hands and feet to another one, and on and on. It just takes one. Beautiful post, Suzie!
Another thought provoking and lovely post to bring with me for the weekend.
Blessings!
This reminds me of JESUS at the well with the woman HE wasn’t supposed to be talking to at all let alone by HIMSELF! But HIS heart reached for this woman who was a Samaritan (someone who was different from HIM) , who had been married several times, probably had children with different men… HE saw the REAL NEED… This woman needed salvation! In HIS conversation with her HE made such an impact on her that she ran into the town(the town where people looked down their noses at her because of her past) to tell everyone about the man who changed her life! Because of one conversation, many were healed and set free and saved! Yes, you never know the ripple effect one one encounter…