Food for Thought Part # 2
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Earlier I announced "cans for comments" (leave a blog comment in the next week - I'll donate a can of food to the food bank) - time for the next announcement kicking off December 1st.
Let's start by me just saying I love my Madi. Madison's name means "Gift from God" and this kid could not be more appropriately named. She teaches me so much and is such a gift.
Madison has always had a compassionate heart. At age 4 she was so moved by the fact our World Vision child did not have clean water - she began selling bottled water to raise money and awareness. Madi sees a need and she wants to step into action. I often hear "we HAVE to do something".
On Friday, I kept Madi home for a "mental health" day. She had been tired and just needing a break. I was outside doing some yard work and I heard hollering from inside. "Mom!!! Get in here! Come quick!!!!'
I came running inside expecting a bleeding, dying Madi. Instead she met me at the door with the phone in hand. "Mom!! Quick - call now. Kids are dying. We have to call and sponsor a child!!" I was a little confused what she was talking about... until I realized she had been inside watching World Vision on the TV.
She was dialing the number and panicked that we had to hurry.
I sat her down and explained we have as many kids as we can afford to sponsor - but we tried to brainstorm other ways to help.
"We can have a lemonade stand!"
It's November.
"We can have a hot chocolate stand at the end of our driveway!"
We live in the country - no one drives past our house.
"We can sell hot chocolate at the Santa Clause parade!"
That's tomorrow - I don't think we could organize it that fast.
...and on and on and on it went. My heart was swelling with pride that my daughter was so passionate about something so important. And my heart was breaking that it sounded to her 7 year old ears that mom was not "letting her" do something to help these children in Africa she was hearing about.
Finally, her last idea was perfect.
She decided to draw and sell her pictures to raise money. She drew and coloured all afternoon. We've chosen one picture that I think captures the whole essence of Madi's heart.
It is Madi and "Saudi" (nickname of our World Vision girl). They are both smiling. There is love. And she wrote one word: "Remember".
Remember.... more than 13,000 children under five die from causes related to malnutrition every day. Today. December 1st... 13, 000 children.
Remember.... that there is food in your cupboards, fridge, freezer, purse, backpack....
Remember.... in Africa over 76 million people are without a home. Based on an average family of 5, Africa is in need of 15.3 million homes.
Remember.... you have a roof over your head and walls around you.
Remember.... Africa has more than 40 million children, almost half the school-age child population, receiving no schooling. Two-thirds of these are girls.
Remember.... you have the free gift of education as a male or female.
Remember.... around the world today there are over 900 million people who do not have access to clean water.
Remember.... you can go into your kitchen, and turn on the tap and pour yourself a glass of water.
Remember.
For the month of December, Madi will be selling her "Remember" picture with ALL profits going to World Vision. You can buy this as a magnet, unframed, framed or as a set of 5 gift cards. It's nothing fancy, or extremely artistic... but to me it is a masterpiece. And just think of the conversations it will start if you add this to someone's Christmas gift or hang it on your fridge or wall. (Orders by December 15th will be shipped in time for Christmas.... after that we can't guarantee delivery but you're always welcome to come by and pick up!). Purchase HERE.
Before you leave here, let me add one more "Remember"....
Remember there is always something you can do to make our world a better place. The choice is yours. Start by a "click" of the button and feed a child HERE.
And now a couple words from Madi herself...
And I have to include this also... how funny are her "nasty clothes" comments - ha ha ha
Celebrating life, love and my gift from God,
Krista
Let's start by me just saying I love my Madi. Madison's name means "Gift from God" and this kid could not be more appropriately named. She teaches me so much and is such a gift.
Madison has always had a compassionate heart. At age 4 she was so moved by the fact our World Vision child did not have clean water - she began selling bottled water to raise money and awareness. Madi sees a need and she wants to step into action. I often hear "we HAVE to do something".
On Friday, I kept Madi home for a "mental health" day. She had been tired and just needing a break. I was outside doing some yard work and I heard hollering from inside. "Mom!!! Get in here! Come quick!!!!'
I came running inside expecting a bleeding, dying Madi. Instead she met me at the door with the phone in hand. "Mom!! Quick - call now. Kids are dying. We have to call and sponsor a child!!" I was a little confused what she was talking about... until I realized she had been inside watching World Vision on the TV.
She was dialing the number and panicked that we had to hurry.
I sat her down and explained we have as many kids as we can afford to sponsor - but we tried to brainstorm other ways to help.
"We can have a lemonade stand!"
It's November.
"We can have a hot chocolate stand at the end of our driveway!"
We live in the country - no one drives past our house.
"We can sell hot chocolate at the Santa Clause parade!"
That's tomorrow - I don't think we could organize it that fast.
...and on and on and on it went. My heart was swelling with pride that my daughter was so passionate about something so important. And my heart was breaking that it sounded to her 7 year old ears that mom was not "letting her" do something to help these children in Africa she was hearing about.
Finally, her last idea was perfect.
She decided to draw and sell her pictures to raise money. She drew and coloured all afternoon. We've chosen one picture that I think captures the whole essence of Madi's heart.
It is Madi and "Saudi" (nickname of our World Vision girl). They are both smiling. There is love. And she wrote one word: "Remember".
Remember.... more than 13,000 children under five die from causes related to malnutrition every day. Today. December 1st... 13, 000 children.
Remember.... that there is food in your cupboards, fridge, freezer, purse, backpack....
Remember.... in Africa over 76 million people are without a home. Based on an average family of 5, Africa is in need of 15.3 million homes.
Remember.... you have a roof over your head and walls around you.
Remember.... Africa has more than 40 million children, almost half the school-age child population, receiving no schooling. Two-thirds of these are girls.
Remember.... you have the free gift of education as a male or female.
Remember.... around the world today there are over 900 million people who do not have access to clean water.
Remember.... you can go into your kitchen, and turn on the tap and pour yourself a glass of water.
Remember.
For the month of December, Madi will be selling her "Remember" picture with ALL profits going to World Vision. You can buy this as a magnet, unframed, framed or as a set of 5 gift cards. It's nothing fancy, or extremely artistic... but to me it is a masterpiece. And just think of the conversations it will start if you add this to someone's Christmas gift or hang it on your fridge or wall. (Orders by December 15th will be shipped in time for Christmas.... after that we can't guarantee delivery but you're always welcome to come by and pick up!). Purchase HERE.
Before you leave here, let me add one more "Remember"....
Remember there is always something you can do to make our world a better place. The choice is yours. Start by a "click" of the button and feed a child HERE.
And now a couple words from Madi herself...
And I have to include this also... how funny are her "nasty clothes" comments - ha ha ha
Celebrating life, love and my gift from God,
Krista
December 1, 2009 11:28 AM
awesome Krista.