Do you have your Easter dress picked out? Does your church expect you to spend $$$ on hats and sandals and sweatervests, even if unspoken, for the sake of a Sunday? Well consider investing your money in a more effective way.
My friend Emily, a self professed Southern gilr who loves dresses, was convicted last year.... the concept of wearing tshirts to support orphan care on Easter was born. This year it has BLOWN out of proportion. Check out her original blog post below.... or her blog here: http://notesfromthefoxfamily.blogspot.com/
From Emily:
If you grew up as a little girl in the South you know what I am talking about
when I say… “Easter Dress” or “Christmas Dress.” Maybe your family were devoted
church-goers or maybe these two holidays were the only time your family attended
church, either way chances are you (and your siblings) endured just a little
extra spit and shine for these Sundays.
Then again maybe it’s just this
little former Southern Baptist, GA (Girls in Action) card carrying Kid, who had
her frilly dress, white gloves, pearls and Easter hat laid out for her every
Easter Sunday, that has the “Easter Dress” mentality. Now before you walk away
huffed because you think I’m attacking anyone for buying a new outfit, rest
assured I adore a cute new ensemble as much as the next person. But listen for
just a moment to a recent moment of conviction that I felt…
Recently one
of the Grandmas purchased my girls some adorable little dresses and instantly I
thought “Sweet, here is their… (You guessed it) Easter Dresses.” Later that week
during a “Quiet Time” session in the house I sat down at the computer (a bit
obsessed if I am honest) to begin completing the “Easter Ensemble.” Thoughts
began to race through my mind… I needed the perfect Hair bows, cute shoes, and
of course a cardigan as to be prepared for the ever-changing Kentucky weather.
As the electronic “Shopping Cart” began to fill up my phone made that little
high pitched “Tri-Tone” notifying me I had a text message.
I looked down to
see the sweetest picture of a young girl who truly is changing the world. (http://www.feedingtheorphans.org/)
This was the 3rd time God had thrown her in my face…
1st time – I hear of
her story from a family member, my lame reaction, “Oh wow, that’s
awesome."
2nd time – I hear her story from Nat and JT, my reaction, “Oh
yes, I’ve heard about her… isn’t her story awesome.” I read her blog and
although brought to tears I produce no reaction. (Ouch)
This time as I
look down and see her face my heart is moved to click away from my shopping
experience and checkout the latest on her blog. It is now that I read of her
latest quest to help an orphanage secure their rent fees for the upcoming year
and her challenge to readers to donate just $4 to de-worm children for an entire
year or purchase a t-shirt to feed an orphan for an entire
month!
SERIOUSLY?!?!? Forget the hair bows forget the shoes, forget the
dainty little cardigans… FORGET THE ENTIRE EASTER FROCK… I delete the shopping
cart...The Fox Family is going to Feed the Orphans with our Easter attire this
year!
I can’t tell you how much Joy I received from clicking around on the
"Feeding the Orphans" website and placing our “Feeding the Orphans” t-shirt
order knowing that 100% of the profits go to feeding an orphan! SQUEAL... it was
by far the most rewarding shopping experience EVER.
I’ll be completely
honest and say that unlike many of you who read this blog I have not always had
a heart for orphans, whether it was ignorance or even worse a hardened selfish
soul, it just simply didn’t pierce my heart. Of course I let out the occasional
“ohh… isn’t that sad” when I heard of their stories but it didn’t move me to
action. So even as I write this I am so incredibly intimidated by the fact I am
writing a post that will be read by many who are TRULY taking care of the “least
of these” and may find frustration in the fact that all I did was buy a few
t-shirts and think I saved the world.
Rest assured in the fact I know
that my little purchase was tiny compared to the daily challenges many of you
conquer to advance the Kingdom. But also know that people like you (for me Nat
and JT) have provided a REAL example of life-changing love. You see, maybe the
reason I had such nonchalant responses to stories of orphans and the
impoverished for so many years is because it just wasn’t a REAL part of my life.
That was of course until January 2010 when my phone once before made that
“Tri-Tone” alarm and produced a picture of an espresso skinned little boy with
huge sad eyes and a runny little nose named “Tedros”… that day the idea of an
orphan became REAL and now after sharing in the life of “Tedi Henderson” for
over a year, it has changed our way of thinking right down to our “Easter
Dress.”
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