Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27
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. Psalms 82:3-4
If you don't believe that, caring for orphans and those less fortunate is the "right" thing to do...for the greater good, to make this world better....for you or your kids. Whatever your motivating factor...you can make a difference.
So then what CAN you do?
1) Adopt: Obviously, this is my number one answer. If you are toying with it in your mind, email me. If money is standing in your way, email me. If race is standing in your way, email me. There are so many resources and conversations that can make these things seem eerily small.
2) Support Adopting Families: There are so many ways to do this. Both financially and other ways.
A) Financially: If you can not give one lump sum of money, you can commit to sending a certain amount of money to them or their agency on their behalf. You can attend fundraisers, buy tshirts, promote their fundraisers on your social media. You can offer to host a fundraiser, enlist your church to do so...
B) Non-Financial: If you can not afford to financially support families, that is fine. Send them a card once a month to let them know you are thinking of them. Pray for them and encourage others to do the same. Re post their efforts on social media. Just showing your support means so much and at the same time advocates for the least of these.
3) Shop: Yep, you read correctly. SHOP. We all do it but being more purposeful in our purchases can literally pay huge dividends for the seller.
Examples: Choose a coffee shop that sells fair trade coffee.
Noon Day Collection: Buy jewelry, scarves, journals and more made by men and women all over the world.
Junk Posse Wonderful and beautiful jewelry
TOMS Stylish shoes .... when you buy one pair, another pair is donated to a child
Just click on the blogs to the right and you will find many more options... there are so many ways to do this, especially at the holidays. I could name site after site of wonderful shirts options as well....Feeding the Orphans, 147 Million Orphans, Ordinary Hero....
4) Sponsor a child: If you can not adopt, sponsor a child. Organizations like Compassion International, WorldVision, Amazima, and Children's HopeChest all over child sponsorships. More often than not, the children are unable to be adopted or live in countries where adoption is not availabe. Usually the fee is $35/month and you help feed, educate, and clothe this child. You send them letters and they do the same. You make a difference in the life of one child.
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I read this quote the other day and it has caused me to re-evaluate. Nope it is not a Bible verse... read it. It is more than applicable to this topic.
"To have laughed often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition, to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Such a great post!
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