BUILDING THE BLOCKS...

This past August my daughter Addisyn started high school. Like many mama's who watch their child head off to High school I wondered where the time had gone and how in the world my baby had grow up so fast. And yet another part of me couldn't help but smile and thank God for the work He has done in her precious life- already.

Awhile back I shared a post Addisyn wrote here on my blog. What I love most about Addisyn is how true she is to who she is.

From the first day of school Addisyn decided that while she may not be able to change the world on her own- she would do what she could do.

Before this school even started Addisyn came to me and asked my permission to donate her lunch money to the Adami Tulu Preschool. Instead of purchasing her lunch at school each day she would instead bring a small, simple lunch every day of bean and vegetable soup and a slice of bread- like that she sampled while in Ethiopia at the feeding program. Not only would this allow us to have more money to donate each month, but it would also be a daily reminder of those children across the world living on so much less.

I remember the day in Ethiopia so clearly. I remember driving up to the feeding program and seeing the faces of so many beautiful Ethiopian children. I remember the missionaries showing us around, showing us the kitchen where the soup was being made and asking us if we'd like to try some. What I didn't know was how this experience would change us. What I didn't know was how this first hand experience of seeing the thankfulness and joy from a simple bowl of soup would change the way we view the blessings in our lives.

I think a lot of times people do nothing simply because they think they have to do something big or some difficult to really make a difference. I think a lot of times we are guilty of doing nothing because we cannot do it all.

And I think that is where we go wrong.

God doesn't ask us to do it all- He just asks us to be willing. He asks us to love others as we love ourselves.

Each one of us have something to give. Each one of us has a voice, two hands, a mind and a heart. Each one of us can make a difference in the life of someone else- and sometimes all it takes is giving up something like our lunch. :)

Today I was able to write a check to Lifesong for $100 for the Adami Tulu preschool for the past 50 days that Addisyn chose to eat bean and vegetable soup instead of purchasing her lunch at school. $100 may not seem like a fortune in the eyes of the world- but to those 33 children who will now be fed breakfast and lunch for one month it is. :) Such a small change in lifestyle can make a big difference to someone else. I know that eating bean and vegetable soup every day wasn't the most enjoyable thing Addisyn has ever done- but knowing she was making an important difference was.

I am so proud of you Addisyn. Thanks for being exactly who you are. :)

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little. ~Edmund Burke